General Motors UK - Vauxhall offers staff sabbaticals

[dipsydoodle]

Car manufacturer Vauxhall has offered its workforce the chance to take a sabbatical on 30% pay.

General Motors approached unions at the plant in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, with the plan last Thursday.

Under the scheme, staff would stay away from work for up to nine months between January and September 2009 on less than a third of their basic salaries.

A spokesman said the company wanted to avoid making any compulsory redundancies.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7781345.stm

Reference to less than a third is because the actual offer is 30% : just seen it on our TV news. I think the unions have until at least the new year to mull it over and I guess take a vote with members. This is one of those issues which may possibly suit a number of their workers. The offer doesn't prevent them taking additonal work to supplement income during the sabatical period. Dropping down to 30% gross pay here doesn't necessarily mean that take home is also only 30% due to tax etc implications - likely to be a bit higher.