Clark ‘Shaky’ After No-Pay-Cation

“… sadly I must report that the State of The Column is shakier than a John Edwards paternity denial. That’s because The Column returns today after taking a week off minus pay. No, it had nothing to do with what that guy wrote in a recent letter to the editor: ‘Mr. Clark is the one in need of confinement, at least from his keyboard.’ My hiatus was due to The Spokesman-Review’s “furlough” program. This is an economic move designed to cut costs and shrink employee self-worth to the size of a microbe’s shinbone. Question: What sucks worse than taking a week off without pay? A: Getting the flu while taking your no-pay-cation. Seriously. I spent the last chunk of my furlough in a clammy, feverish fog. Now I know what it’s like to be Martha Coakley/ Doug Clark , SR. More here .

DFO: Alas, I need to start thinking about another furlough week to help balance books for the first quarter. But, as Scarlet said, I don’t want to think about that today. I’ll think about that tomorrow — or at least after Blogfest VI.

Question: Does your office or company use furloughs to keep things in the black?