Are unpaid days off the new trend?

[GREENBACK]

It seems that were hearing more and more about people that are getting their hours reduced by employers basically giving them fewer hours. How does this apply? I've read or heard about workers suddenly having to take a couple days off a month or something similar. Do you then become a part time employee? Do you lose your full time status in terms of benefits and possibly your union bargaining position?

I know California is looking to do this with state employees if they already haven't. This strikes me as a scary trend. It particularly concerns me that this might be considered a normal thing for companies to do.

I know this isn't a brand new concept but it seems to be spreading out these days. Has it affected anyone here?

[Phenomenal Woman]

I would think this would be similar with on how a planned shut-down would work in a sense.

Every year at my job, we have a week shut-down at Christmas/New Year time. Since most employees takes vacation at this time of the year, it made sense to use this time to save on company's operating costs. We have a choice of either using our vacation hours or take unpaid days off. We cannot work on these days unless your role is critical during this time. It’s not really a big deal in this sense but if it is for ongoing basis, then it might discourage the incentives for employees to stay.

If weekly hours went from 40 to 29 or less on an ongoing basis, depending on your company’s plan then it more likely it would change your benefits.

People might strike because they would not be earning as much anymore if they are paid hourly. This would be a deal breaker for those who depend on every penny they bring home. An opposite theory, it might be an incentive for employees who do not want to work the full 40 hours but still get benefits. I am thinking more for employees who have children or hobbies.

My husband has his hours cut; it does not change his benefits because he really did not have much benefit to begin with.

[msduckland]

I think things are getting very bad

[zetta]

I'd rather have two unpaid days off a month than work the same hours and take an equivalent cut in pay -- at least you could try and do something to earn a little money on the days off.

However, if the time off is being used to drop people below the threshold for receiving benefits, I think that is very very immoral of the companies.

[Lori63]

My hubby has to take a week unpaid this quarter. We haven't been told if this will be a quarterly thing-I pray it isn't. He already had a pay cut!

[Bluestreak]

I definitely think that is the trend. We are in a recession and the future is looking bleak in many industries for the near future. Companies are simply needing to tighten their belts if they want to survive through the coming years.

It has affected the office I work in, which is real estate related. The secretary's in our office are now trading Fridays off unpaid, and the yearly bonuses, paid holidays, etc are all gone. They still have a week of paid vacation for now but that will be gone if the real estate market does not get better soon.

[Hot dog]

I work for the state of Maryland and we had to take two days off unpaid if you made less than 40,000 then 4 days for 40- 60,000 then up to 6. I'd rather do that than lose my job.+

[wincrasher]

Sadly, it's probably just postponing the inevitable - layoffs.

Unless people go out and buy stuff they need, then the trend will continue.

[Snoopy2645]

I guess I am lucky I work for a bank we get alot of days off paid like presidents day & martin luther king day & stuff its great & we are on the callcenter side but since we are a bank we get to use it as a floating holiday I guess I am very lucky on the other hand dh has a great job & his co just filed bankrupt!!!!

[Cylenchar]

My employer has just cut hours back to 35. What they are doing is switching us over to 5 7hr work days instea of 8 hour. They are also encouraging people to take unpaid vacation.

[chewie8himup]

Originally Posted by Lori63

My hubby has to take a week unpaid this quarter. We haven't been told if this will be a quarterly thing-I pray it isn't. He already had a pay cut!

The good thing is he still has a job. We have so much to be thankful for - we should all focus our efforts to one of gratitude.

[Lori63]

[quote=wincrasher;206233]Sadly, it's probably just postponing the inevitable - layoffs.

/QUOTE]

Hubby's employer already laid off 11 people this fall. I am really worried about hubby's future earnings.

[Lori63]

Originally Posted by chewie8himup

The good thing is he still has a job. We have so much to be thankful for - we should all focus our efforts to one of gratitude.

I am truly trying- most of all to my husband. I really believe that in the end it will work out, and we aren't in risk of losing the house, the kids are all fine, and we both like our jobs.

[Bernz]

This is truly happening...lot of employers nowadays would be happy to grant their employees Leave Without Pay (LWOP) status. In Asia, I heard that some countries are reducing work days to 4 days a week instead of laying off employees.

[whitestripe]

i know its different for me, but i am employed on a casual basis at one of my jobs, so if i ever want a day off, it's unpaid. i also am too expensive to work on public holidays (i am supposed to get $55 an hour so my boss cant afford it). so if there is a public holiday on the day i work, iget the day off. at my other job, i am employed permanent part time, but it is for my families business so i do not get paid for sick days or holidays or public holidays. i can choose to work on public holidays for the same rate, if i want.
the way i have dealt with this, as i have never been employed any other way, is to deposit a small sum in an account each week which i then take out when i have days off, to the amount of which i would have earnt.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by Cylenchar

My employer has just cut hours back to 35. What they are doing is switching us over to 5 7hr work days instea of 8 hour. They are also encouraging people to take unpaid vacation.

Okay, cutting back on your hours is one thing but are you still considered a full time employee that is eligible for all the benefits that a full time employee would get? That would be my greatest concern.

How exactly do they "encourage" unpaid vacation. If my hours were cut like that the last thing I'd want is unpaid vacation time.

[Hot dog]

At my job as long as you are employed for over 30 hrs a week you get benefits although your sick and vacation time accumulate at a reduced rate.

[PrincessPerky]

Since my husband never gets paid vacation or sick days, I really am lacking in sympathy. (so for say Christmas he had to work late the days before to be able to take home a full check that week)

Though I do see cutting hours to remove the need for health benefits as a problem.

[tripods68]

Unfortunately, I'm one of the state employees affected by this two-days furlough that the Governator instituted last month. We are receiving 9.3% reduction from our gross starting next month which supposedly to continue for 17 months unless we got a new budget deal. I'll lose about $316 a month. Our health coverage, retirement pension, or annual merit increase will not be affected. Our Union is figting this through the appeal process. No one is immune by any means in this tough economy and still very lucky we all have jobs still...at least cross my fingers.

[cschin4]

Honestly, I never minded taking unpaid days. I like having time off. Instead of looking at it in the negative, why not take advantage of it? Yes, less money. But, more time. In life, I find you either get time or you get money and most people rarely ever get both. For me, I make a decent income. I could work FT if I wanted to but I don't want to as I prefer to have time for myself and family. So, if the hours get cut and you still have the health insurance than take advantage of the free time you always wanted before but never had.
Also, I think the economy has changed. I think eventually everyone will be basically "part time". So, consider looking for some side jobs where you can easily pick up some extra work.