Would you take a 5% paycut?

[marko138]

Originally Posted by The Chi

It gets better! We are constantly harassed about not spending company funds on necssary projects, and told we are lucky to have jobs and we wont be hiring and will be laying off people, and then everyone and their brother in the other office gets a NEW assistant and iphones...

Thankfully, I dont have to deal for much longer, just a few more months...then I can gracefully exit, while letting them know EXACTLY what I think of them...AND what they can do with themselves and the way they treat people...havent decided on my strategy yet...

That seems insanely frustrating. Mind me asking what line of work you are in?

[buzzcutt2]

A few things...yes I would take the cut and then start my job search. I would also make sure that it is across the board including management and that they would not be getting any bonuses or car allowance, blah blah.

No increase for me this year...not sure when I will see an increase again, there might be layoffs here in the near future. Supposedly my group is safe for now, maybe Obama will save us all.

[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...

[shmike]

Originally Posted by G-Rex

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.

I understand your angst, especially given the circumstances.

However:

Often, in small companies, the boss will take a hit long before the employees. I have seen small business owners not take a paycheck for months to keep a company afloat while the employees had no idea.

[Hondahugger]

Originally Posted by shmike

I understand your angst, especially given the circumstances.

However:

Often, in small companies, the boss will take a hit long before the employees. I have seen small business owners not take a paycheck for months to keep a company afloat while the employees had no idea.

I agree Sean, we didn't give out raises to the guys outside this year, some received an increase to minimum wage when it went up to $7.21 an hour and only one received a decrease, but he was only at $7.24 an hour to begin with.

The owner of the company explained to him that he would be more than happy to give everyone a raise and lay off 5 people, or everyone could get the same pay and everyone could keep their jobs.

Meanwhile, I do payroll, I know who makes what and I know what my boss has done to ensure equality. He has cut his pay, and things that the company should pay for, he has started to pay for it out of his pocket by not turning in receipts to me.

For small businesses, it should always start at the top. I know that when my boss retires, and the doors close here, he'll be on a boat fishing in the Keys every day and occasionally might remember that girl who used to work in his office doing the accounting while I'm out pounding the pavement looking for the next accounting office to hire me.

[wildchild]

wouldn't take the paycut, but would start looking for a new place of employment. Co is probably going on a steady decline if they start asking for volunteer cuts.

[marko138]

Originally Posted by wildchild

wouldn't take the paycut, but would start looking for a new place of employment. Co is probably going on a steady decline if they start asking for volunteer cuts.

You know damn well that the people who don't take the pay cut are the first on the block for lay offs.

[Rider]

Originally Posted by marko138

You know damn well that the people who don't take the pay cut are the first on the block for lay offs.

Not over 5%. Do you realize that it would cost the company a lot more than 5% of your salary to hire someone back in at a 5% lower salary. Advertising cost money, interviews cost money, training costs money. If a company is going to fire your ass over 5% they have far bigger problems than you know about and you better have your ass out job hunting anyway.

[marko138]

Originally Posted by Rider

Not over 5%. Do you realize that it would cost the company a lot more than 5% of your salary to hire someone back in at a 5% lower salary. Advertising cost money, interviews cost money, training costs money. If a company is going to fire your ass over 5% they have far bigger problems than you know about and you better have your ass out job hunting anyway.

Well...everyone at my company took 4%...anyone making over 6 figures took a 20% cut. I guarantee if and when we have to lay more people off it will be the ones who declined the 4%.

I had no choice. The reporters and produces, who are under contract, had a 'choice'.