Chrysler plans for 2009 summer break

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. auto giant Chrysler LLC told employees to expect a two-week break in July next year, adding months to its notification policy.

Many salaried staff take a break when Chrysler shuts factories down for their traditional two-week summer hiatus. But, this year, Chrysler told most salaried staff in March that they would also be expected to take the two weeks off in July.

The short notification period was met with complaints, the Detroit Free Press reported Thursday.

This year, "we felt it was important to communicate the dates at this early stage to better enable employees to make plans," Nancy Rae, Chrysler's executive vice president of human resources and communications, said in a company memo.

Next year's two-week break will start July 13, the memo said.