E&Y asks staff to take a LAP

Ernst & Young, one of the big four accounting firms in the world, has launched a one-month unpaid leave program in China to reduce labor costs in the economic downturn.

The "leave of absence program" (LAP) encourages all staff members to take up to four weeks of voluntary unpaid leave by June 30. Meanwhile, employees are encouraged not to work overtime during the peak season from January to April.

"The LAP allows us to balance our long-term commitment to develop our people with the short-term need to control costs during the downturn. Over 90 percent of staff has joined the LAP and made leaving plans in advance," said Ernst & Young China's Chairman David Sun.