LINCOLN , Calif., May 29 (UPI) -- For many Americans the U.S. economic downturn has not meant layoffs, but has been more about doing with less, a family says.
The New York Times reported Friday that many workers have had their hours at work cut, meaning a reduction in take-home pay.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said about 6.7 million people were working fewer than 35 hours a week in April because of "slack work or business conditions," nearly double the number a year earlier.
Moreover, a recent survey of 518 large companies by Hewitt Associates found 16 percent had cut pay and 20 percent had cut hours or imposed furloughs.
The Ferrell family in Lincoln, Calif., say the recession has forced them to cut back drastically on household expenses after state workers, including father Jeff Ferrell were forced to take two-day-a-month furloughs.
"People just say: 'Oh, it's just a 10 percent pay cut. Cut the fat out of your budget,'" Sharon Ferrell said. "But we've cut the fat. We've cut the fat all along, and so this is really pushing us close to the bone now."
