How to Handle a Pay Cut

　　如何应对减薪

　　Perhaps you've noticed that business has slowed down around youroffice, which could be a sign that your company has fallen on toughtimes. The good news, you learn, is that you still have a job. Butbefore you can say, "Whew," you learn the bad news: Your salary isbeing reduced。

　　你可能已经注意到办公室里的业务已经减缓下来了，这是你们公司在经济困难时期下滑的表现。好消息是你仍然有一份工作。但是在你松口气之前，你马上听到了不好的消息：你减薪了。

　　Make No Acception

　　不接受

　　When your supervisor breaks the news to you about your pay cut, donot accept anything immediately. In other words, refrain from conveyingany type of agreement, either verbally or in writing. If pushed, youmay say something to the effect of "This is a lot to process right now.I need to think about this and discuss it with my family this evening."

　　当被上司告之减薪时，不要马上就接受一切。也就是不要订立任何口头或书面形式的协议。如果他们催你的话，你可以这样说“这不是现在就能决定的事情。我要好好考虑一下，晚上回去和我家人商量下这件事情。”

　　What you want to do is buy yourself some time. Why? You need to findout all the facts surrounding a salary reduction before you accept it.A pay cut can affect your future severance package and compensation forunused sick or vacation days as those numbers are usually calculatedbased on your current salary -- as are unemployment benefits. Also, thereduced compensation could affect salary negotiations with futureemployers as your last salary of record could be significantly lessthan what you are really worth。

　　你要做的是为自己争取一点时间。为什么？因为在你接受之前你要找出有关减薪的所有原因。减薪会影响到你将来的遣散费、病假或其他假期的补偿费、以及失业补贴，因为这些费用都是按照你当前的薪资来计算的。另外，减薪也会影响你将来找工作时和你未来的雇主协商你的薪资问题，因为你的上一份薪资明显比你的价值要低。

　　Just the Facts

　　查清事实

　　Once you're no longer reeling from the shock, go on a fact-finding mission. Questions to ask your superiors include:

　　一旦你从震惊中恢复过来，就开始找出事实的真相吧。你可以问上司的问题包括：

　　（1）Is this a mandatory or voluntary pay cut?

　　这次减薪是强制的还是自愿的？

　　（2）How much will your pay be lowered by?

　　你会降低多少？

　　（3）Who else is affected by the pay cut?

　　其他还有什么人也会减薪？

　　（4）How long will the pay cut last?

　　减薪会持续多久？

　　（5）Could there be retroactive reimbursement?

　　是否有什么补偿措施？

　　（6）How will this affect raises, bonuses and benefits?

　　减薪会对以后的加薪，福利等产生有什么样的影响？

　　（7）Are you going to have to work longer hours or take on additional tasks?

　　我是否需要长时间的加班或做其他额外的工作？

　　（8）What are the company's plans to turn things around?

　　公司有什么改善措施？

　　Questions to ask yourself include:

　　可以问自己的问题包括：

　　（1）How much do you need this job?

　　你有多需要这份工作？

　　（2）Do you have faith that the company will recover from this setback?

　　你是否确信公司会从这次危机中恢复？

　　（3）Can you trust what your superiors are telling you?

　　你是否相信你上司说的话？

　　（4）Is it time to move on?

　　是不是到了该前进的时间了？

　　After gathering information outwardly and inwardly, you may want tospeak with an employment attorney to explore all of your legal optionsand your rights。

　　收集了表面和内在的原因后，你可能需要和一位职业律师谈谈，研究下你合法的权利和选择。

　　It Pays to Negotiate

　　谈判是值得的

　　Once you know the facts and think you may wish to continue at yourcurrent job, see if you can negotiate to make the pay cut morepalatable to you。

　　在你得知事情的真相后，如果仍然愿意留在当前的工作职位上，就看看是否可以通过谈判的手段使得降薪对你更有利。

　　Some areas to negotiate can include your weekly hours and where youwork. Suggest a reduced schedule, such as a four-day workweek. Or tryto arrange to telecommute to reduce your commuting costs。

　　可以协商的领域可以包括你工作的时间和地点。可以建议减少工作时间，比如一天工作四天。或努力争取远程办公或减少你的交通费用。

　　You can also negotiate around stock options, if you still believethe company is viable -- and valuable. If you don't have any stockoptions, ask for some. If you have some, try to get more. If you're notsure what the shares are worth and where the company is headed, do someresearch。

　　如果你认为公司的股票有价值，并且可行的话，你可以和公司协商股票持有权的事宜。如果你没有股票持有权，那就要求公司提供。如果你有一些的话，试着得到更多。如果你不知道多少股份才有用，也不了解公司的领导层，那就做一些调查吧。

　　Finally, ask the company for a written agreement around the salarycut, when your old pay rate might be reinstated and if there will beany recompense for lost wages. Your supervisor may balk, but if youwork for a small company, you may be able to negotiate this。

　　最后，向公司要一份降薪的书面证明，注明你的旧薪资什么时候恢复，以及公司有对你损失的薪资有没有什么补偿。你的上司可能不会同意这样做，但是如果你是在一家小公司工作的话，你就可以和上级协商此事情。

　　Exit Stage Left

　　是离开的时候了

　　If at the end of your fact-finding and negotiating you feelcornered, remember: you're not. You still have choices and options.However, to exercise any of them, you may need to consult with anemployment attorney or your local unemployment office。

　　如果在最后，你被寻求事实和协商逼到了绝境，记住，你还有其他选择。但是在实践之前，你可能需要找一位执业律师或当地的失业办公室咨询一下。

　　Because most people are employed "at will," you or your employer canend the arrangement at any time and your salary can be lowered, as longas it is done for a legitimate business reason. But, if your pay hasbeen cut by an unreasonable percentage, you may be able to quit andstill collect unemployment benefits. Rules vary from state to state;check with your local unemployment office before you do anything。

　　因为很多人的雇佣关系都是很随意的，你或者雇主随时都可以结束雇佣关系，或以一个合理的工作原因来降低你的薪资。但是，如果你是因不正当的理由被降薪了，你就可以在辞职的时候享受失业福利。每个州的规则都不一样，在你有所行动之前先咨询下当地的失业办公室。

　　If you have an employment contract, you may be able to refuse thecut altogether or at least quit and collect unemployment, but only ifthe contract states terms of compensation and says that your employercannot alter the terms without your consent. The pay cut couldconstitute a breach of contract and an attorney can help you negotiatethe terms of your release or fight for your full pay。

　　如果你签订了劳动合同，或许可以拒绝降薪、至少也可以在辞职的时候得到失业福利，但是这也得是在合同规定了赔偿条款或写明了雇主不得在未经你同意就出任何变更的情况下。减薪可能会构成违约，你可以找一名律师来帮你将薪资保护战进行到底。

　　Finally, you can temporarily agree to the pay cut, update yourresume. Begin applying for new jobs immediately and look forward to thefuture with a different employer。

　　最后，你也可以暂时答应减薪，但是开始着手开始更新你的简历。马上开始去找另外一份工作，期望将来找到一位好的雇主。