Economy Now: Apple’s Non-Layoff Cost Cutting
Apple Insider is reporting that, rather than layoffs like Palm or unpaid vacation like Dell’s exploring, which would certainly paint a less-than-rosy glow about the company, Apple:
…plans to scale back the hours worked by its part-time Mac Specialists that greet customers and promote products. This would keep them on the store floors while trimming employment costs, those aware of the changes say. To compensate for the shortfall, Geniuses normally assigned to servicing products and answering questions will be asked to spend four of their weekly hours in the Mac Specialist role. Creatives manning the Studio sections of some stores will be asked to work as many as eight hours selling products.
Less person hours, however, is still less person hours. Here’s wishing all the ever-helpful staff at Apple Retail, the great folks at Palm, and everyone at Dell a speedy return to the work they love (and need!), and everyone a little global confidence, a modicum of collective good fortunte, and a lot of responsible leadership moving forward!
November 25th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Good for you apple, i bet your employees respect you now more then ever.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
“fewer” person hours - whatever happened to grammar?
November 25th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Grammar evolves, much as it has since the time of Beowulf, but then it does provide such wonderful comfort for sticklers, does it not? Myself, I appreciate not jamming my English in tidy little boxes, straight jacketed and carted off down well-worn, but then again, maybe I just should have known better, and no amount of comment-retort will ever make up for my vorpal slight against the Queen’s English.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I would rather not work at all than work half the time.
December 28th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Yeah whatever. I work for Apple and I have NO hours (meaning: zip.zilch.nada) until at least April (and that’s a big fat if). That goes for ALL of us “valued” part time mac specialists. It sucks, I have no job and I’m just trying to scrape by; now I’ll really be scraping.
But have no fear. I’ll still be considered and “apple employee” I’m by no means actually getting laid off, and if for some reason they magically pull hours out of their *** I’ll get a call to come in and work. I guess you could say I’m on a strictly on-call basis. I would almost rather have been completely laid off than be half-assed laid off.
this is also after putting YEARS into this company.