HP asks workers for 10% pay cut

Already having laid of thousands of workers and implementing a broad range of
operating expense cutting measures, Hewlett-Packard this week asked its
employees to take a voluntary 10 percent pay cut through the end of October or
to take eight days off, using the vacation time they have already accrued.

Carly Fiorina, CEO, HP said the entire top management team of the company has
already agreed to the plan and she hopes most company employees will follow
suit.

The move is designed to further help HP meet its financial targets under
difficult market circumstances. Earlier, HP tightened cell phone and travel
expense limits. Hewlett spokesman Dave Berman said, "We have had a
tradition of employees pitching in and doing what they can in difficult economic
times."

The program is strictly voluntarily, Bergman insisted. "There is an
option to do none of the above, and manager will never know, because we are not
tracking it to that level."

HP is not alone among the industry's top computer makers. Sun Microsystems
and Compaq are shut down this week. Dell is requiring employees to take some
time off this quarter.