Dang, if they'd implemented this a couple of years ago the Rangers wouldn't have gone and signed Vicente Padilla.

I'd love to see some numbers that shows how badly MLB is affected by the "current economic environment". ####### scumbags.

I'd love to see some numbers that shows how badly MLB is affected by the "current economic environment". ####### scumbags.

Well, this is the MLB central area, not the teams. It'd be more interesting to see where this arm gets its money from and how.

My place of work has instituted a hiring freeze, a salary freeze, and layoffs. At least the higher ups have forfeited their bonuses and 20% of their salaries here. I'd be pissed beyond all hell if they took my vacation time. That's the part of the blurb that struck me. Geez, why don't you just lower everyone's salary or take their health care away?

The vacation time makes no f-ing sense. If things are going to be slow, freeze the salaries (or cut them) and give more vacation time.

The vacation time makes no f-ing sense. If things are going to be slow, freeze the salaries (or cut them) and give more vacation time.

Just seems like they're using the economy as a reason to be an #######.

Just seems like they're using the economy as a reason to be an #######.

Or they're planning layoffs, and they don't want to pay out so much in vacation time.

Or they're planning layoffs, and they don't want to pay out so much in vacation time.

I'd be surprised if they didn't have vacation accrue over the course of the year. Assuming they do their layoffs in January, it wouldn't make a difference. Of course, this IS MLB we're talking about, so no amount of HR/Accounting idiocy should surprise me.

Seriously, cutting vacation time? Who thought that was a good idea? If they did that to me, I would just purposefully avoid doing any work, while at work, for an equal number of days to my lost vacation time. Then I'd have even more time to spend on BTF!

Seriously, cutting vacation time? Who thought that was a good idea? If they did that to me, I would just purposefully avoid doing any work, while at work, for an equal number of days to my lost vacation time. Then I'd have even more time to spend on BTF!

Exactly. It's the same as when bosses take away free coffee, newspapers, and other stuff like that. Yes, it helps the bottom line, but it also totally pisses off and demoralizes your work force. So, now they know you really don't care about them, they think they're going to be laid off, and they're going to be expected to work hard. Let me know how that works out.

Just seems like they're using the economy as a reason to be an #######.

The NFL, another billion-dollar business, is doing the same thing.

they're going to be expected to work hard.

Harder. Much harder, in fact, since they'll be fewer of them.

Seriously, cutting vacation time? Who thought that was a good idea?

Just as with the business on the field... there's a difference between playing hardball and just showing people up because you can. This would be the latter. As I read this I envisioned the executive who approved the cuts flipping away his pen and striking a pose next to his desk like Barry Bonds...