Mandatory days off?

We just received the memo at work stating that we are to take 3 unpaid vacation days. For me, it's ok as we really don't live off of my salary, but just curious as to how many companies are doing this, and how do you feel about it?

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I heard of our competitor doing it.
They closed the week between Christmas and New Year's.
I guess it's better than layoffs if it can prevent them...

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One of my friends is being forced to take 3 weeks off, one per quarter from Q2-Q4.

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I have heard of a few people that have to take mandatory days off. It's essentially a pay cut. My company went the pay cut route. I would prefer the mandatory days off though - I love time off and I have a feeling a full time work schedule would be reinstated quicker then recouping the loss of pay.

Message edited 6/5/2009 3:37:01 PM.

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DH is forced to take a day off every other week. He can use up his vacation time for the days, but he isn't. His company has a program that gives him unemployment for those days. My FIL is also forced to take 1 day per month.

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Before DH's division was bought by another company last fall his old boss laid off 20% of the company and required 5 Fridays off w/o pay from Sept-Dec 08.

As DH is in sales, not working=no sales, he followed his e-mails and answered messages from home on those days. It was all to avoid additional lay-offs.

It's happening at a lot of companies.

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I've heard of a lot of companies doing it. I also know companies where they were required to take paycuts. Personally, I'd rather have the day off without pay then a paycut with no day off. They're essentially the same thing but at least with one you get the day off.

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In my union, they do furloughs. Right now it is I think a 10 week furlough. You can collect unemployment during this time.

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Message edited 6/19/2009 2:57:44 PM.

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I am required to take 2 weeks unpaid this year and 2 weeks vacation, so essentially 1 week either paid or unpaid per quarter. And because I make over a $$ amount, I have to take the week unpaid all at once, I can't break out days. But I would rather have unpaid time off instead of a paycut.

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We started that last December and it carries through the end of this year, to be reassessed at the end of the year.

In my department we have to take off one unpaid day per month, they are not paying us for holidays or sick days. It equates to 21 unpaid days this year - 26 if you take all your sick days.

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There was a rumor going around that my firm would be doing this as well. Turns out everyone had to take a 10% pay cut in order to save about 50 jobs!! They did give us 6 extra paid vacation days for June/July/August.

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We asked for volunteers first.

If we don't get enough takers we'll go to mandatory time off.

So far we have quite a few volunteers so hopefully we can make due with that.

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Yes -- for this month, it's voluntary in my dept. We're having a meeting next week to talk about the plan for the next quarter. Basically, they say they're trying to save jobs. They're also looking to add temporary or permanent part-time work schedules as an alternative to the unpaid time off.

I'm on the fence about how I feel about it. I'd much prefer it if they did it as a vacation purchase, spread out over the year or the quarter. The way they're doing it now is the whole day's pay is deducted from your regular check. I did the math; for me, two days pay is my bi-weekly personal spending money. I don't want to lose that!

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DH's company is doing it--one furlough day a month. It stinks, but I hope it is saving jobs.

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i work for the county and we might be on forced furlough for 26 days a year.

i think it's becoming more common.

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I am forced to take one week (unpaid) off but i also do not get paid days off or sick time at my job. Reason why i am at the point of moving on.

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My husband's company requires that all employees take a mandatory 10 days off unpaid this year. They must be taken in 5 day increments, Mon-Friday, so he loses a full week's pay twice this year.

This is in addition to layoffs that were done at the end of last calendar year.

Message edited 6/8/2009 1:02:30 PM.

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yes, i've head of it. my friend was cut to a 4 day work week so a 20% pay cut.

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I know some folks are not in the financial position to give up part of their salary, but if it helps save jobs, I am 100% for it!

honestly, I would be GLAD if DH's job starting doing this. his job is VERY high stress and he works such long hours, plus a lot of time spent working on weekends. if he was forced to take a day off a week w/o pay, it would be a BLESSING!!!

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In September we were all cut eithee 15% or 20% (I can't remember now) and as of April we all have to take off 2 days per week, however we are doing the shared unemployement. So every week we also get some unemployment. I'd rather do this then not have a job. But I think we are at about a 50% pay cut since last August. I stinks but better to have a job than not! I hope things get better!!!