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Watson Wyatt Finds Slowdown of Cost-cutting Efforts
A Watson Wyatt press release said the survey also found that cost-cutting plans for the next 12 months have decreased across the board. Most companies surveyed are planning no further hiring freezes (67%), organizational restructuring changes (65%), or layoffs (53%).
Although the majority are not planning any further salary reductions (89%) or salary freezes (76%) in the next 12 months, the number that has already made these changes has risen sharply since February. Mandatory shutdowns (24%), a reduced workweek (22%), and mandatory furloughs (17%) have also risen sharply since February.
The number of companies that have reduced their 401(k) match has increased by 10%, from 12% in February to 22% in April (see Layoffs Slow, but More Salary, Benefits Cuts to Come ). There has also been a slight jump in the number of hardship withdrawals taken from 401(k) plans – 44% of respondents in April noticed an increase in withdrawals, compared with 35% in February, the press release said.
Companies continue to add or increase restrictions to company travel policies (from 69% in February to 77%) and eliminate or reduce training (from 35% to 42%).
Recovery Expected?
Watson Wyatt also found that only one in four employers (26%) plan to increase cost-cutting initiatives over the next 12 months – a sharp decline from the 51% planning more cost-cutting measures in February.
Thirty-one percent of employers that have already reduced salaries plan to reinstate them by the end of 2009. Thirty-seven percent plan to reinstate and build off them at the next merit increase.
Watson Wyatt’s latest survey includes responses from 141 employers and was conducted in April 2009.