Time Off Without Pay: Whose Responsibility?
It’s the recession question being asked at factories, offices, workplaces, and dinner tables across America: would you volunteer for an unpaid furlough to keep your colleagues from losing their jobs?
Three days here. Six days there. A week, two weeks, a month. Thousands of workers in dozens of industries are making the trade-off of losing pay for saving jobs.
But is everyone stepping up simply because it’s the responsible thing to do?
When the University of New Mexico asked for furlough volunteers in order to avoid layoffs, a 30-year-old paid intern raised her hand and said, “I’m glad to do what little I can” to help the school weather the recession.
While one co-worker saw the move as “gracious,” another worker publicly questioned the young woman’s motivation, saying she was trying to “suck up” to her bosses for future employment. “Supervisors love that attitude,” said the critic. “What she has said will ensure her a good-paying job once she finishes (her) internship.”
The tension at the university “highlights a behind-the-scenes drama playing out in a growing number of workplaces,” reports The Wall Street Journal, where the question of whether to volunteer for a furlough has sparked contention and anxiety among workers.
Some employers are shielding the identity of furlough volunteers from the rest of the staff. “We didn’t want there to be any sense of competitiveness, like ‘I did this, why didn’t you?’” said an Iowa executive whose employees are taking secret furloughs.
Employment experts offer advice about the politics of volunteering for an unpaid furlough. “In this job market, the last thing you want is for people to think they can do without you,” one said, cautioning that an employee who sacrifices a lot of time off “may be viewed as expendable” rather than as a team player.
At the University of New Mexico, a staff head said employees are worried not just about image, but reality. “I have people emailing me and saying, ‘I’m one paycheck away from homelessness. I can’t miss one day of work.’”
Tell us what you think: Are you responsible for saving a colleague’s job by reducing your own hours and pay? If you were asked to volunteer for unpaid time off, what would you do?
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I am in Virginia
I am not in New Mexico, I want to help local people in Prince William County, Va. I am sorry.
Susan Mabe | 10 months, 3 weeks ago
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I would like to think that if a job could be saved with the small temporary sacrifice that most people would do so.
Reality is such that unless it is mandated that is not likely to happen.
To save a friends job I would take a temporary leave of short duration, and or a temporary pay cut.
In the end I have a responsibility to my family and to my obligations (mortgage and bills) that comes first, so if I could help a friend without doing damage to these I would do so.
How many of your co-workers are truly friends?
Vix | 10 months, 3 weeks ago
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Dakota
We are involved in the problems with San Bernadino County furlough program. Most co-workers are true friends, all taking a little cut for the benefit of all. We even took vote in support of this. The union called for the vote and then without employee input, they nullified the results. The result; flex schedules gone, furloughs to continue. Potentially, hundreds to lose jobs. My job is safe but others will likely not be so lucky. Why? Because some else got a better deal a year before. My answer to this mess, fire all union leadership. approve the vote as we all wanted. Everyone keep their jobs. Re-focus the SBPEA towards meeting member needs, not lining their own pockets with my dues money.
Dakota | 10 months, 1 week ago
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Furlough
I work for a very small construction company in Va. We have been in dire straits since November. I work with a legal resident of America who is from El Salvador. He is terrified to collect unemployment, he fears it will affect his residency status. We both have families to care for. I gladly went on unemployment and let him have the few hours available. When we began to work again, I ceased to collect unemployment and we share the burden of a day’s work here and a day’s work there. We take turns, and share not to suck up to our boss, or get ahead (how ridiculous is that), but because we are human beings that care for another human being. We are all doing what we can to help each other and our company survive these very hard times. By taking turns working, we not only are each making a little money, we are also helping our company avoid going under. It’s a care thing. When someone treats you decent you find it easy to return the favor, no matter how hard times are.
Stacy Boykin | 10 months, 1 week ago
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You are doing it the way it should be done! Not enough people think or act like you do.
Rachel | 9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Furloughed in Florida
I am a City employee in Florida on a furlough day right now. In my case, the furlough was an easy way for management to save money without making any tough management decisions. They will save $180,000 with 2 furlough days this year. They gave each employee a $1000 raise this year. Without the raise, they would have saved at least $500,000. How does this make sense? The raise was not contractual. The furlough was easy, and makes it look like they are doing something. Doing “something” is not always the right thing to do! Lower wage employees are paying a much larger price. The City wants to be “fair” to it’s employees, but the furlough impacts some, more than others. The Police union is suing the City because of the furlough. The Fire union stated “ I don’t care how many general employees are laid off, we will get our raise”. This is the real world! We don’t live in Utopia. The Police & Fire employees are NOT in their profession for service, they are in it for the money only. Their actions have proven this time and again.
Mike | 10 months ago
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Husband is furloughed for 2 weeks....
His thought is there will not be a plant to come back to. During his furlough he cannot draw unemployment (OK), but he can’t use any of the 8 weeks of vacation he has either. I understand the workings of a furlough, but does the company understand the workings of a household? Our bills are still due and we still have children to feed. It is everyone in his plant at the same time going out, from upper management to line workers. I smell something wrong here, something no amount of playing fair will help. At this point in our lives, I leave it to God, because I no longer trust the government, the company or the boss that told him it would all be OK. I trust my husband and he knows he can trust me, together we stand, divided we fall, and if we find ourselves with our backs against the wall…we will be together. Good Luck to all that deserve it, maintain and sustain, your life, your family, your friends, past that, Guard yours!
Mary Hill | 9 months, 4 weeks ago
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American
What a wonderful use of my time! I usually don’t take time to watch commercials…but this family dinner-time conversation has been so well and it speaks to the heart of this nation at the most appropriate time.
As I sit here, with tears running down my face, I want to thank you for making me aware that with small sacrifices on my part, it might make a difference. What a wonderful thought that with small sacrifices on the part of everyone, we might actually pull out of this mess…together.
Vicky | 9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Old, tired and confused
I understand what a furlough is supposed to accomplish: saving the company to continue the business. I just completed my first furlough, two weeks at a shot; boy let me tell you it reeks. I took a big hit on my salary; my car hit 100,000 miles and the engine blew up on me; and, gas is climbing to $3 to $4 bucks a gallon. I have next month’s rent in the bank. I am not going to make my medical bills, the electric, gas, water, or sewer bills. My wife shouldn’t work due to her health, although she is applying for any job she can find. I am trying to find fill in work, for when I have to furlough next quarter and a part time night job to make ends meet.
A furlough may help the company I am working for, but it will kill me. I am never going to be able to retire. I have been through this four times now and every time it is nothing more than someone balancing the economy by eliminating those that can no longer even minimally sustain themselves in the new model that emerges. What little I have was used to get me through to the next crisis and I have less for every new crisis. God, what a mess we have created for ourselves and those we leave behind. I am not ready to go, but I don’t see a good alternative for the future.
John | 9 months, 2 weeks ago
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Unpaid time off
I agree with all here: it’s good for the company, but where does that leave us that have to take the time off? My husband has been sent home involuntarily when he does work, and he’s been denied raises (one he was promised seven months ago) and bonuses (based on how much money he has made for the company). And in all this, we can only say that we’re lucky he kept his job.
Meanwhile, we have three kids and one on the way. Our bills don’t go away-we save the company money, but we all suffer. I just hope this economy turns for the better soon-I’m tired of worrying.
celeste good | 9 months, 2 weeks ago
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