Recession finds even those with jobs losing pay

[marmar]

AP, via Charlotte Observer:



Recession finds even those with jobs losing pay

By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD
AP Business Writer

Posted: Sunday, Mar. 08, 2009


In cubicles, factories and stores these days, anxious workers are trying to ease each other's economic fears with something akin to, "Well, at least we still have a job."

Yet for many, that's becoming small comfort as more employers cut hours or hire only part-timers. People paid on commission, meanwhile, are suffering as sales dry up. And state workers around the country have been put on unpaid leaves.

These workers aren't counted in the unemployment rate, which hit 8.1 percent in February. They're not eligible for federal benefits that provide a safety net for the jobless. Yet their pain is real, and their reduced spending is a drag on the economy.

Call them the walking wounded of this deep recession: millions of workers whose incomes have fallen even as they manage to hold onto their jobs. Their shrunken pay has forced many of them to make hurtful sacrifices.

"I won't be able to buy to the groceries I need to buy to make sure my family can eat until the end of the month," said Rhonda Wagner, a 52-year-old California state employee who just absorbed a 9 percent pay cut because of a state-imposed unpaid leave. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/136/story/584575.html

[BlooInBloo]

1. Micrsoft cut contractor pay 10%, even with $4 billion in 4th quarter profits...

For one example.

[MissB]

2. Yep.

I'm losing about 5%. Luckily for us, my income is secondary.

[davsand]

3. I am in local government. We are facing either unpaid furloughs or layoffs.

If this continues to play out as predicted, everybody could be facing 7 unpaid days off spread over the balance of the year. This is an attempt to avoid layoffs and it has met with surprising acceptance from most county employees.

What worries most everyone, however, is that there are no guarantees that layoffs will be avoided completely. We may all come together to do this and still face seeing somebody be unemployed.



Laura

[azmouse]

4. Like so many others, my husband has to take 2 weeks off upaid.

We're lucky that he earns a good salary but we still don't know how long his job may be around.

[devilgrrl]

5. No pay raise for us this year

:-(

[SmileyRose]

6. We've been on 70% for about 3 months.

He's let go 45 of his 130 employees. The owner family - including the adult kids - are working on no income and living off savings from previous profitable years. The rest of us have moved to working 3 days a week, doing our work and the work of the 45 who have left in only 3 days rather than 5, and taking 70% salary too. The upside is 4 day weekends which allows for other jobs, education, etc.

The hourlies who still jobs in production are still getting their 40 hrs pay but are now coming in for three 13 hour shifts so we can cut the costs of powering up those other 2 days.

[BlooInBloo]

7. Sounds like they're actually doing their best to hold it together in a fair way.

EDIT: Kudos to them, in tough times.

[SmileyRose]

8. I have kissed my boss more than once.

I'd kiss his feet quite frankly. When I see DUer's blanket ranting against everyone in the top few percentage of income earners I always wish they could know the many small business owners I know who have done mighty well and are doing their dangdest to take care of their people.

[BlooInBloo]

9. :) I won't tell your husband.

:P