Comments on: Dilemma Friday: Would You Take The Cut?

By: SarahT

SarahT — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:53:40 +0000

Been there, done that, still got laid off. The bosses, of course, did not take pay cuts and paid themselves nice bonuses at the end of the year.

By: Senenca

Senenca — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:49:49 +0000

I would not take the pay cut. If I was working like that then I would be doing it for myself and my family. Not others.

By: Sandra Cormier

Sandra Cormier — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:48:49 +0000

My employer implemented a volunteer plan to take unpaid days or a shorter work week for a period of one year without losing full-time status. I volunteered to take the four-day week. Sure, it’ll be less money for a little while, but I also get more free time — hopefully three day weekends — and I’ll have more time to write.

By: dew

dew — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:18:14 +0000

First, I wouldn’t believe them immediately. I’d rather wait around to see if people are canned. I’d probably rethink things if asked again, if, and only if, I saw that more than a few coworkers actually lost their jobs. I don’t trust most employers as far as I could throw them, and would assume they were using the economy excuse to cut salaries.

Second, why not ask if we’d be willing to give our coworkers $50+/month out of our pockets, because it’s the same thing to me.

Third, I’d be getting my resume in order, networking, and searching the help-wanted ads once I clocked out, the same day they asked this question.

Fourth, I’d only consider a paycut if higher ups were taking pay cuts too.

By: KristieJ

KristieJ — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:20:02 +0000

I feel awful answering this way – but it would depend on how much the pay cut was and were the higher-ups taking a pay cut too. If they were and it wasn’t too much of a cut – yes I’d take it. If the higher ups weren’t taking one – I don’t know………

By: Miki

Miki — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:12:04 +0000

I’m with Anon76. I’m awfully cynical.

If the CEO in my company took a 3% decrease in what he made in 2007, he’d save 25 “regular staff” jobs alone.

Instead, he forces our managers to hold weekly meetings about how to outsource our jobs to Manila, Mumbai and Panama.

By: West

West — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:28:35 +0000

It would depend. Was I making enough to begin with that I was doing okay and could afford it, or was I barely scraping by as it was? Because if it’s the first, I’d take the cut, and probably start looking for another job (not quit, since, ya know, the economy sucks, but at least start looking). If I was barely scraping by, sorry to say, but I’d refuse the cut.

By: Fae

Fae — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:20:56 +0000

If, as you say, I was barely managing on what I’m making now…then no, I wouldn’t. My family comes first, always.

By: Shiloh Walker

Shiloh Walker — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:25:03 +0000

If they were asking JUST me….no. One person taking a cut isn’t going to make a difference. Even three or four.

But if it was a company wide issue where all employees were being asked to take a cut, more than likely yes.

By: Kay Webb Harrison

Kay Webb Harrison — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:28:57 +0000

I would want to know more about the company’s financial condition, such as who else is being asked to take a pay cut, how much the “bosses” will be sacrificing, etc. Is the company really in danger of totally going out of business? Are those in danger of lay-off truly good workers or dead weight?

As a high school teacher, on contract, I once voluntarily waived my annual raise in order to save the school–private/parochial(my denomination)–money. Of course, if my income had been the main one for our household, I wouldn’t have even considered the idea. Our local newspaper ran an article today on the increasing number of people who are applying to be public school substitute teachers.

Kay