Ditch Witch Furloughs Hourly Employees to Trim Costs

Perry, Okla.-based Charles Machine Works Co., manufacturer of Ditch Witch underground construction equipment, last week announced the second one-week-long furlough of hourly employees in an effort to cut costs.
The furloughs were made in response to the downturn in the economy, the company said. All employees affected reportedly received unemployment benefits.

The company will employ a staggered work schedule for its 896 hourly employees throughout the month of March. Half of the hourly workers will work the first and third weeks of the month, and the other half will work the second and fourth weeks.