Frank Kollman

The loss of productivity starting Thanksgiving week until the new year is staggering.  Even more staggering is trying to figure out holiday closings and determining if staff should be paid.  While my firm has always been generous in this department, a business cannot continue to expand its policy for paying people for not working indefinitely.  Already, our governments are in trouble for paying former government workers for early retirement (namely, not working).  That is a recipe for financial ruin.

Yesterday, my firm announced the holiday closing plan/policy for this year.  I cannot take credit for it.  Pete Saucier, my best friend for over 30 years and my business partner for 18, came up with the following:

"As usual, the firm will be closed this Thursday and Friday.

We will be closing early on December 23 (half-day) and will be closed on December 26 (as Christmas) and  December 30 (as New Year’s Day).  Work will resume regular schedule on January 2, 2012.  New Year’s Eve is not a paid half-holiday, although the Firm reserves the right to close early with pay on that day in years when it is a regular workday so that folks can prepare for celebration.  That is not the case this year.

Anyone who needs staff support during closed periods should make arrangements soon."

I thought I would do a public service and share it with the four people who read my blog.

Happy Thanksgiving.