It is always good to take a break from work. But if you work for Yahoo and were considering a ski trip in early December, you better forget it.
Yahoo reported a few days a go that its earnings were down in the third quarter, and right on the heels of that annoucement, the blog Valleywag printed a letter to 10,500 Yahoo employees in the U.S., that they will have to use vacation, paid time off or borrow from next year’s vacation on the period between Christmas and New Year’s day (December 26 to 29).
The information was delivered with the memo, which was signed by with a flip, “enjoy the time off!”
Why are they doing this? To save a little money on electricity?
According to the Associated Press story that was written as a follow-up to the Valleywag revelation:
“Yahoo spokeswoman Joanna Stevens confirmed the e-mail’s authenticity, as well as the company’s closure plans. “This will make sure everyone has time to recharge their batteries,” Stevens said. The move also will help Yahoo save money by lowering its expenses for lighting and heating its offices. It will also enable the Sunnyvale-based company to reduce its liabilities for its employees’ accrued vacation. Stevens described the projected savings as ‘minimal.’”
Nice work Yahoo. If the business reason isn’t compelling, why do it?
The company that I used to work for, which was going through a protracted downturn at the time, decided to do this. However, unlike Yahoo, they added a few days of vacation that year and then the next year we lost a few floating holidays. However, everyone felt it was reasonable because of the way in which it was done.
Sometimes hard business decisions have to be made, but if management enacts these decisions with some class, they can have the effect of building team spirit instead of ripping it apart. Internal communication is much more than memos and newsletters.
In Texas, the definition of “Yahoo” is something quite different. A Yahoo is an uncultivated or boorish person; lout; philistine; yokel; a coarse or brutish person.
I am afraid in this case, Yahoo lived up to its name.
