The NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development [LDW] has announced maximum weekly Unemployment Insurance and Workers' Compensation benefits for 2011.  Details here.

In light of the economy, I suppose that it should come as no surprise that benefits have decreased for the first time in 40 years.  Surprising or not, it's still a bit of a shock.  The maximum weekly unemployment benefit, for instance, has been reduced from $600 to $598. 

And since it's Monday, how about a mini-rant just to get the week off to a good start?  Why does LDW's name have to be so darned long?  Really, folks, we knew who you were and what you did when you were just the plain old Department of Labor.