Hunting Deutsch, executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity resigned abruptly after disclosures that he collected unemployment benefits while traveling in Europe. Deutsch refused to answer questions saying frankly it's a personal matter. The former executive director collected benefits for 91 weeks from 2009-2011(some of which) when he was traveling in Europe with his wife.
He did however say, "I'm fortunate enough where I've worked for very successful companies for a very long period of time and luckly sold all my bank stocks- most of them at the right time, at the right price and quite frankly did not have to work. So my wife and I took some time off and travelled a great deal.
The Florida Senate President said it was the right thing to do and Governor accepted the resignation effective effective December 9, 2012. According to the Miami Herald, his salary at the Department of Economic Opportunity was $140,000 annually.
By my calculations Mr. Deutsch received about $25,000 in UI benefits. These benfits were paid for by a tax paid by his employer. Mr. Deutsch may have been eligible for the UI benefits based on his work history and the facts regarding his being laid off through no fault of his own. I'm not sure if the periods spent in Europe qualify as required job search activity or if he ever disclosed them.
He did however say, "I'm fortunate enough where I've worked for very successful companies for a very long period of time and luckly sold all my bank stocks- most of them at the right time, at the right price and quite frankly did not have to work. So my wife and I took some time off and travelled a great deal.
The Florida Senate President said it was the right thing to do and Governor accepted the resignation effective effective December 9, 2012. According to the Miami Herald, his salary at the Department of Economic Opportunity was $140,000 annually.
By my calculations Mr. Deutsch received about $25,000 in UI benefits. These benfits were paid for by a tax paid by his employer. Mr. Deutsch may have been eligible for the UI benefits based on his work history and the facts regarding his being laid off through no fault of his own. I'm not sure if the periods spent in Europe qualify as required job search activity or if he ever disclosed them.
I read he has a home in Santa Rosa and a condo in Miami. He worked for a bank for 35 years and got a substantial severance package when he was laid off. That he had money but still qualified and took advantage is sad.
ReplyDeleteJust finished reading a story about his job with the State of Florida. "A career banker with more than 30 years of high level service." The piece was in a UM Alumni publication and they were proud of his appointment, MBA 1982. I wonder if there be some letters to the Dean of the Business School. Oh well. I've been to more than a few UI hearings in my career and most of the time they were decided in favor of the employee because the employer was lazy during the termination process or if it was an older worker it was cheaper to pay the claim than get into a pissing match and leave your self open for further litigation. Our governor's company paid a huge fine for medicare irregularities. The rules are different down here.
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