Why is my roommate, who worked for Maggiano’s, a huge corporate restaurant under Brinker, able to choose not to work (after being offered hours for take out/delivery and declining in favor of government assistance), receive a payout from Brinker (something to the tune of around $300/week), and be eligible for unemployment, netting him WEEKLY checks of up to $1200 (not including the stimulus check).

Meanwhile, me, an SSV for Starbucks corporate, choosing to stay home to keep myself and my loved ones as safe as possible, is receiving less than $1200 on a BIWEEKLY basis.
Am I in the wrong for wishing I could just cash in on the unemployment checks?

Granted, I love working for Starbucks. They’ve helped me be able travel all over the country and easily transfer to new locations. I love my current store, I love my partners, I love making handcrafted beverages, and am currently working through my PDP with intentions to move up to ASM.

I recently worked at a licensed King Soopers Starbucks kiosk before making my return to a corporate location. I live in Colorado. At the King Soopers kiosk I was making $12/hr with my previous (2 years) of Starbucks experience. Which means the baggers and checkers and other “essential” employees are certainly making less. I’m just confused why our front line staffers are getting shafted when they could be at home cashing in on fat checks from the govt.

Tear me apart, talk me up, I am just looking to see new perspectives here.

I understand that I am fortunate in the grand scheme...you’re not going to change my mind by lecturing me about how badly others have it, I get that, I just don’t get why unemployment is currently a BETTER scenario than the one I’m in...