Hours Being Cut

[movinonup]

One of the major auto suppliers in this automoative-based town announced today they are cutting back salaried employees hours by one day a week and cutting pay by 20%.  This is a huge cut, and I'm guessing the other suppliers here will follow suit, based on reductions in orders and slow work days to come.

Since I am employed by another supplier, I am coming up with some suggestions on how best to accomplish the cut to 32 hours.  Best to be proactive, I believe.  We have a staff of admins (6) to cover the front desk, so we'll need to be available for core hours of 10 to 3:30.    

Here's what I've come up with so far:
MON - THURS:  9-3:30 w/a 30-minute lunch break
FRIDAY:  8:00 - 5:00 w/a 1-hour lunch break (these are our current hours)

The full-day selection would be up to the admin herself, based on workload, but I think it should be varied, so that there is always one admin available in sales to cover travel, meeting set-ups, and other admin work.

Your comments are welcome, as this is something new for us, and I want to make sure I'm thinking of everything.

Thank you

Movinonup

[movinonup]

Okay, I've been re-thinking the schedule, and we could actually work 4 full-time days and take one off, as long as they were staggered off-days.  This might be preferable to the admins, as it would allow 1 day to work at a separate job to make up for the 20% loss.

One of my bosses tells me I tend to complicate things, so I guess I need to look at the simplest schedule first!

Comments STILL welcome!





Movinonup

[msmarieh]

I would consult with the other admins to get their feedback and determine what the max number of admins is that can be off on any one day. For instance, if you decide it is two, you could have two off on Monday, two off on Friday and two people on one of the middle days, with the middle day people alternating weekly, if they prefer, so they get a shot at three day weekends as well. Some people might prefer to work five days, but leave early every day or come in later. As much as possible I would try to accommodate people's preferences and having everyone together giving input on the schedule will work best for that. This gives some control to each individual in a situation where they have very little control.

[gee4]

"...Since I am employed by another supplier..."

Maybe I am missing something here but if there is no directive from your company to cut back hours, then why do you feel the need to cut back your own staff working hours?

I work 36 hours a week, 8am to 4.30pm, Mon to Thur with half an hour for lunch.  On Fridays we only work from 8am to 12 noon so maybe some staff would prefer the earlier start if they are not doing a school run.

[movinonup]

Gee, I don't feel the need to actually cut the admin staff hours--nor is it my place to do so--but I think it's good to have a plan in place, in case we get hit with this scenario.  This is usually the way it goes; once one supplier makes such a drastic move, the others follow.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Movinonup

[gee4]

Maybe if that situation arises you won't have a say.  I mean maybe senior management will just reduce you to a 4 day week for example.

I'm not sure many companies would take direction from their employees.  If such a situation arises it's not always the employees that decide the best action to take.

[laurafmcdermott]

I think you are doing the right thing by being proactive.  In the environment I'm in, the management is happy to hear suggestions by staff, especially ones that really apply to the business need of the organization.  They may not always do what we suggest, but they do listen.  Hopefully your organization is similar in that regard.  Good luck.

[Atlanta Z3]

The only issues I see with that schedule are day care and travel expenses.  If I were losing 20% of my pay I would rather stay home one full day a week.  If I had kids I would try to keep them home that day.  I wouldn't have to dress (or dry clean) or spend gas or bus fare to get to work.  On the reduced time per day schedule I would still have all the same expenses only less salary.

[movinonup]

Atlanta, that's a very good point.  Others with children are very likely to see it your way.  We do have one gal with two little ones at home.  The rest of us are older and have grown children.  Most have indicated they would prefer a 4-day work week, if it comes to that.  I would prefer to stretch it out to 5 shorter days, personally.  

We did have an employee meeting on Friday, and it was indicated that the decision about how to further reduce expenses was yet to be made, but it might include a 4-day work week.

UPDATE:  One of the foreign (transplant) suppliers has now offered a chance for their employees to reduce their pay by 10% in two different ways.  They can decide whether to work 4 days or 4 and 1/2 days, as long as they only work 36 hours.  I can't see working 12-hour days, since I'd be exhausted...so I'd probably go with the 4 1/2 days.  

Movinonup