Catherwood LibraryILR School

As the 2008 holidays come to a close, many workers remain on 'vacation' ? forced to take unpaid vacation by struggling employers. The temporary layoffs, called furloughs, are being used by many hospitals, universities, and factories. Many professors and hospital workers though, are doing as much work as normal, just for lower pay. Factory workers are forced onto furloughs when their factories are idled ? all of the Big Three automakers have extended their holiday shutdowns. State governments, for whom the layoff process is longer and more complicated, are also making use of temporary layoffs. Maryland has required furloughs for 67,000 of its 80,000 workers. Of the 10.3 million unemployed in November, almost 12% were temporary layoffs, a number not seen since February of 2001. Surveyors say also that the number of people affected by temporary layoffs is probably underestimated.