Would you take a 5% paycut?

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by Hondahugger

If Management approached you and said that they would be laying off 3 people if they couldn't get everyone to agree to take a 5% paycut, everyone agreed and you were the last one to approach, would you do it?

Yes.

Would it suck, would I complain about it? Yes. But we've already had both a formal "layoff," as well as a "redistribution of workload" (where the 12 people who lost their jobs were told "this isn't a layoff, we won't be calling you back, so go find other jobs") and that's just in the last few months. In the 8 years I've worked here, I've seen more layoffs and reorganizations than I can count. And each and every one of them just plain SUCKS...

Sometimes people you like lose their jobs; sometimes people you don't like lose their jobs. But the bottom line is, they're ALL people, they all have lives and families and other personal things we may or may not be aware of. Just because we don't "like" them doesn't make them any less human, or make them losing a job any less craptacular.

Originally Posted by Hondahugger

You might ask: Who are the 3 people?

Valid question, if you're giving up part of your salary, you want to know where it's going, right?

No, I wouldn't ask who they are. It's not my business, nor should management be obligated to tell you. It shouldn't factor in, IMO. That makes it personal, and it's a business decision.

For me, the decision would be based on choosing to take the paycut to either a.) save the company money in hopes it will improve their overall financial outlook, or b.) save some people their jobs in a very poor job market, where chances are, they won't find employment for a long time, or a combination of both factors. In either case, the WHO isn't important to me.

If you're trying to "do the right thing," you just do it. You don't base the decision on "Do I like that person? Do I not like that person?"

[marko138]

Yeah I would...and just did. We laid off 11 people AND took a 4% paycut. There was no option. Also, no 401k match anymore.

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by marko138

Yeah I would...and just did. We laid off 11 people AND took a 4% paycut. There was no option. Also, no 401k match anymore.

We just had our quarterly meeting last week... no profit sharing (can't 'share' what we didn't make), and corporate wide wage freeze (so those of us who've taken on all KINDS of extra work this year are just going to have to be glad we still have JOBS rather than complain about not getting a raise).

[G-Rex]

Originally Posted by neebelung

We just had our quarterly meeting last week... no profit sharing (can't 'share' what we didn't make), and corporate wide wage freeze (so those of us who've taken on all KINDS of extra work this year are just going to have to be glad we still have JOBS rather than complain about not getting a raise).

My company is small, and my time here winding down soon of my own doing.

However, if I were not leaving, and I was asked to take a paycut, the answer would be no.

I would suggest to the boss he has plenty of room to make sacrifices before we do. He spends more in a month on dining out than some people make in a month. That's just one example of many I can list.

[Dave]

fuck. no.

[azoomm]

I don't think it shows a very strong management structure in the company when they are giving options to their employees about fundamental company issues. It shouldn't be up to the employees. Amazingly, there is more stress and angst when the decision is made by the emotional than by those looking at the bottom line.

Would I? I would do what is best for the company in the long run. A flat 5% of each person's income isn't going to save the company that much - if they let someone go they then don't have to pay insurance, workman's comp, etc... so it would be better for the company to let someone go.

What is better for the company is better for ALL the employees.

Business decisions shouldn't be personal - it should be based on job performance.

[Corey]

Originally Posted by azoomm

I don't think it shows a very strong management structure in the company when they are giving options to their employees about fundamental company issues. It shouldn't be up to the employees. Amazingly, there is more stress and angst when the decision is made by the emotional than by those looking at the bottom line.

Would I? I would do what is best for the company in the long run. A flat 5% of each person's income isn't going to save the company that much - if they let someone go they then don't have to pay insurance, workman's comp, etc... so it would be better for the company to let someone go.

What is better for the company is better for ALL the employees.

Business decisions shouldn't be personal - it should be based on job performance.

Fucking this times a million. If a company is giving you the option, something's wrong at the top. Chances are those options will become actuality. They'll take the 5% and then end up firing people anyway when nothing changes, or vice versa. It's piss poor managing having the employees make any of those decisions, and creates friction among the ranks when their opinions on what should happen aren't universal.

[rogue]

Originally Posted by Corey

Fucking this times a million. If a company is giving you the option, something's wrong at the top. Chances are those options will become actuality. They'll take the 5% and then end up firing people anyway when nothing changes, or vice versa. It's piss poor managing having the employees make any of those decisions, and creates friction among the ranks when their opinions on what should happen aren't universal.

Yep.

However, I'd still take the pay cut.....and start looking for another job.....

It's better to have a job and look for one than to be fired/laid off and not have income until you find something else...

[Apoc]

Originally Posted by azoomm

What is better for the company is better for ALL the employees.

Whats best for companies wqould be to pay nothing and overwork everyone. I work for a huge, multibillion dollar zinc mining/smelting company. They dont give a fuck about me, which is why we have a union.

[Trip]

I would say yes if management also took the 5% and eliminated their golden parachutes and year end bonuses.