There's dignity even in THIS job

Some people REALLY want to work. Just ask that guy dressed as a Beautyrest.

By Donna_Freedman Sep 30, 2011 11:30AM

For a week or so I've been seeing the man in the mattress. He stands on a busy Seattle street waving a sign to advertise the grand opening of a bed store -- while dressed as a Posturepedic.

He could also be a Beautyrest. I don't know from mattresses. What I do know is this: That is a guy who wants to work.

I spoke to him one day: "I'm heading to Walgreens. Could I treat you to some juice or a soda?"

He smiled. "Nah, I just had some coffee. Thanks, though!"

The young man looks to be in his 20s -- like the guy I saw last spring who dressed as the Statue of Liberty to direct folks to a tax-preparation place. Both fellows were willing to put on goofy costumes and stand outside in all kinds of weather, waving signs and enduring the stares of passersby.

Bing: The history of the sandwich board

Maybe the men didn't qualify for unemployment, or maybe their unemployment had run out. Perhaps these were temporary second gigs, done in addition to night shifts somewhere. Or it could be that they have a checkered background and no one else would hire them.

Whatever the reason for taking the jobs, they did them with dignity -- well, with as much dignity as it's possible to have while dressed as a Sealy or Lady Liberty. Neither man frowned or scowled. They held their signs, waved at passing cars and put up a generally cheerful front for the companies paying them to be there.

I'd bet the pay isn't very much. Maybe they were earning only minimum wage. The operative word is "earning." It's natural to feel sorry for a grown man or woman dressed as a can of 10W-30 and standing outside an oil-change place. That's a gig suited more to a 16-year-old with no work experience.

While it isn't a job I'd want -- and I bet they don't want it either -- it is a job. Neither guy said, "No way am I doing that." Both did what they had to do.

There's plenty of sniping about folks who wouldn't take a job at McDonald's. Some are too proud to wear a paper hat. Others wouldn't because when unemployment just about pays the bills it doesn't make sense to trade that UI check for 20 hours a week at or just above minimum wage.

Yes, I'm bothered by the fact that a low-paying mascot job might be the only thing standing between Mattress Man and an eviction notice. I'm also impressed that he took it.

The next time you see a guy waving a "Store closing! Huge deals!" sign on a corner, why not offer to grab him some coffee or a sandwich? There but for the grace of your current job go you.

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2Comments

Best

Oct 3, 2011 12:22PM

i totally agree- any job beats no job- anyone who thinks they are to good to do menial type jobs should be ashambed of themselves- there are plenty of these type jobs available but no one to fill the positions- food is rotting in the fields in several states because people are to lazy or think they are to good to do the work- if one low paying job will not cover all the bills, then try getting 2 low paying jobs until something better comes along- people will get a lot more respect from honest labor than from useing food stamps and welfare-self esteem comes to those who earn an honest living -

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Someone (diditonce)

Dec 2, 2011 5:49PM

Sadly our current welfare system enables some people to take the free handouts rather than earn their income.

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Editor Bev O'Shea lives and works in the foothills of the Appalachians. A former copy editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Orlando Sentinel, she joined MSN Money in 2007. She's a fan of sunsets, college football and free shipping, among other things.

Having worked as a writer, reporter and editor for more than 25 years, Editor Julie Tilsner is the sort of person who can't help but correct grammar in Facebook postings and on billboards. She's written for BusinessWeek, the Los Angeles Times, Parenting, Redbook, AOL and others. She lives in Los Angeles County with her family and loves to drink wine and practice yoga, although not generally at the same time.

A writer for MSN Money since January 2007, Donna Freedman won regional and national prizes during an 18-year newspaper career and earned a college degree in midlife without taking out student loans. She also writes about smart money tactics for magazines and on her own site, Surviving and Thriving.

Mitch Lipka has been warning people about scams and shining light on questionable business practices for more than 20 years. Mitch, the consumer columnist for The Boston Globe, has also been a reporter and editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Consumer Reports, South Florida Sun-Sentinel and AOL. He won the 2010 New York Press Club award for best consumer reporting online and was honored in 2011 for his reporting on child product safety.

Marilyn Lewis is an award-winning writer with a passion for getting readers clear, straight information that helps them stay out of financial trouble. A former reporter for The San Jose Mercury News, she works from her home in Port Townsend, Wash. Contact her at MarilynLewis@Outlook.com.