Saturday, November 15, 2008
COACHMAN SHUTTING DOWN FOR ONE WEEK DURING THANKSGIVING
Greg Gerber of RVINEWS
MIDDLEBURY, Ind. -- Coachmen employees learned today they will be required to take Thanksgiving week off without pay. The decision applies to every division, RVs and manufactured housing, and affects all employees from the CEO to the custodial staff.
Tom Gehl, corporate secretary, told RV Industry News the decision was made to keep as many employees as possible employed for as long as possible. Although Gehl didn't have exact figures as to what the cost savings would be, he did say that the company will save a significant amount of money as a result of the forced vacations.
Gehl also said the company is about to make another round of layoffs, and that this round could included more salaried people than production workers because the production crew has already been trimmed back as far as it could be.
"We considered the week off without pay to be the most conservative and most equitable way to help the company. It's a straight cost-saving measure to keep as many people employed as we can during what's proving to be the most stressful situation the RV industry has faced in decades," he explained. "The market is creating a lot of stress for a lot of people. But, hopefully, there will be some opportunity for our company on the back end."
One of those opportunities, Gehl said, is Coachmen's work to help develop the RV industry in China where the economy is booming and the country has put in place an infrastructure of roads and roadsigns to encourage tourism.
One person contacting RV Industry News about the pending forced vacation indicated that people who must work the week of Thanksgiving will be required to take the following week off without pay. Gehl confirmed that employees will not receive vacation pay for Thanksgiving Day this year.
MIDDLEBURY, Ind. -- Coachmen employees learned today they will be required to take Thanksgiving week off without pay. The decision applies to every division, RVs and manufactured housing, and affects all employees from the CEO to the custodial staff.
Tom Gehl, corporate secretary, told RV Industry News the decision was made to keep as many employees as possible employed for as long as possible. Although Gehl didn't have exact figures as to what the cost savings would be, he did say that the company will save a significant amount of money as a result of the forced vacations.
Gehl also said the company is about to make another round of layoffs, and that this round could included more salaried people than production workers because the production crew has already been trimmed back as far as it could be.
"We considered the week off without pay to be the most conservative and most equitable way to help the company. It's a straight cost-saving measure to keep as many people employed as we can during what's proving to be the most stressful situation the RV industry has faced in decades," he explained. "The market is creating a lot of stress for a lot of people. But, hopefully, there will be some opportunity for our company on the back end."
One of those opportunities, Gehl said, is Coachmen's work to help develop the RV industry in China where the economy is booming and the country has put in place an infrastructure of roads and roadsigns to encourage tourism.
One person contacting RV Industry News about the pending forced vacation indicated that people who must work the week of Thanksgiving will be required to take the following week off without pay. Gehl confirmed that employees will not receive vacation pay for Thanksgiving Day this year.
