Here’s what companies are doing and plan on doing because of the slower economy. Watson Wyatt’s survey was conducted during the week of Dec. 8, and includes responses from 117 companies across a variety of industries.
| Action | Change already made | Change planned in the next 12 months |
| Travel restrictions | 48% | 16% |
| Hiring freeze | 47% | 18% |
| Layoffs | 39% | 23% |
| Downgrade/cancel holiday party | 35% | 8% |
| Increase benefits communication | 32% | 35% |
| Eliminate/reduce seasonal workers | 28% | 16% |
| Organization-wide restructuring | 23% | 21% |
| Eliminate/reduce training | 23% | 18% |
| Raise employee health premium contribution | 20% | 17% |
| Increase pay communication | 16% | 43% |
| HR function restructuring | 14% | 21% |
| Salary freeze | 13% | 19% |
| Mandatory holiday shutdown | 13% | 5% |
| Reduce/eliminate other employee programs | 12% | 12% |
| Salary reductions | 5% | 6% |
| Early retirement window | 3% | 6% |
| Reduce 401(k)/403(b) match | 3% | 7% |
| Reduce workweek | 2% | 6% |