Optional Furlough - what would you do?

[Lonewolf]

Recently my company has asked that all salary employees take 10 days off unpaid. Ironically the next week my wife's company was also asked to take off 5 days unpaid.

Recognizing these are tough times, I took this with a grain of salt and was happy that they were kind enough to give us time off vs just reduce salary by 4%. A very vivid reminder of why emergency funds are important and I am glad both my wife and I are very budget aware and can adjust to the lower cash inflow as it happens. I am of the mindset that I will try to schedule out maybe 2 days a month so to minimize impact to monthly pay over the next 5 months.

Personally I believe it is better for all to tighten belts vs people be laid off, and realize that not knowing what the future brings that this still might mean future layoffs latter, but I was wondering what would you do? This is optional, so technically you wouldn't have to take any unpaid time. I can't see management having the ability to impact those who decide not to do this as it is voluntary as of now, but if enough don't I am sure there will be a company impact.

Just interested in thoughts and if others are going through the same thing.

Lonewolf

[swanson719]

Management can do whatever they want. They don't have to have justification for laying off the people who decided to keep working when down the road they have lay-offs. It's not so easy to fire someone, but it's easy to discriminate when you lay off people, because you lay off to lower costs while maximizing production. If the business is getting smaller, then they will lay off those who cost them the most, which would be the people who don't take the 10 days unpaid. Yes, it's better business as a whole for the company to not lay off anyone and just have an across the board pay cut, but then you have the possibility of losing the best and brightest to a more competitive company.

[Ima saver]

I would take the time off, if it was me.

[disneysteve]

This is optional, so technically you wouldn't have to take any unpaid time.

I don't know about that. Even if they are calling it "voluntary" I think I'd take it as a pretty clear warning that this is a last ditch effort to avoid lay offs. If you want to keep your job, I'd go along with it and take the unpaid leave. Otherwise, when lay off time comes and management is reviewing personnel records, they probably won't look to kindly at those who refused to pitch in and use the unpaid time.

[Daylily]

I think you are doing the right thing by agreeing to take the time off. I also think that in your own interest it is best to spread it out across several months.

I actually wish that my company would give me the option of taking an unpaid sabbatical beyond my existing vacation time.

[Lonewolf]

"Optional"

My job at this company allows me to interact with many of the plant workers who aren't given the "option" of taking time off. So for me, the answer is easy that if they have been tightening the belt, its only fair for corporate. But its interesting seeing many of my corporate "friends" who state they aren't even considering it as they really fear their jobs are possibly next in line for layoffs. I'm one of those mid-level people about 10 years into the company, so I don't feel the noose, but realize that with this economy you better prepare for anything. Many co-workers though are 30 years in and know that finding a similar job at this stage would be tough, so seem to want to hold tight to anything.

I hope this is the roughest economy I ever see, but after watching discovery channel about the depression and the "dust bowls", seems we still have it easy . . .

[Daylily]

I still think you are doing the right thing by showing the willingness to step up. Doing only one or two days a month also somewhat protects you. If you were to do five days this week and maybe another five days next month then if they decided to terminate you then you'd be out that two weeks of pay and you'd be without a job. Doing only a day or two here and there protects you slightly in that situation. BUT hoping that you don't lose your job at all. I hope you're able to hang in there.

[KevinCarr]

Furlough

Sadly, a furlough is often the 2nd to last step before a company downsizes or shuts its doors. I would be actively shopping my skills to other companies.

[mezzchick]

At my company, we were not given the option to have an unpaid "vacation".
It is mandatory, and we have to take it within the next 2 1/2 months. Thank goodness for the EF!