[OfficeArrow]

These days, many businesses are cutting back or "freezing." Whether it's a hiring freeze or a spending freeze, one thing's for certain: Employees across the board are being forced to do more with less. Tell us where you're experiencing cutbacks and how you're staying productive despite them. Read on to learn how to enter and what you could win.
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[thisenvy]

My job was cut in mid-December. Since then, I have had to live on my meager savings- nearly non-existent since I also was laid off February 2008- and the rest of my student loans. As a result, I still have three courses left to finish my BA degree but no funds to pay for the courses. My unemployment funds already run out in two weeks. Saying times are tough is an understatement.

I have been trying to send out as many resumes as possible every day, signed up with various job sites, and have brought resumes into offices and followed up with phonecalls, which were met with voicemail. I have excellent job experience and references but can't seem to get a break. I haven't given up hope, as I know you cannot get something from nothing. I am hoping to figure out a way to finish my last three courses for my BA degree, as I think that will also help in the future for the job market. Until then, I just continue sending resumes and having hope...

[Jayne A]

I am fortunate that I work for a company that is debt-free! We are doing all we can to make sure we are here when the market turns around. Anything that enables us to stay profitable at work keeps us all employed.


I make liberal use of white boards for tracking schedules. I scan documents to email instead of faxing them. This saves paper & ink. I save used paper to print on the back maximizing its use. Once a sheet of paper reaches the end of its use, I add it to our recycling box which is dropped off by one of our employees on his way home. I shop for office supplies the same way I do for groceries, I look for the best deals for my money. Trade magazines are shared among co-workers.

Other methods I use are searching the internet for cost saving methods in my spare time (which is not always easy to find!). Even local discount stores occasionally offer deals on office supplies. I found office calendar desk pads for $1.00 versus the regular sources for $3.99 and up.

On warm days, I suffer from the humidity while co-workers are comfortable. Instead of chilling down the office and my co-workers, I added a small fan to my desk. Less electricity and everyone is comfortable.

Even when it doesn't involve business expenses, our co-worksers try to save each other money. We bring in our used books, trade journals and magazines. These we offer free to each other and our customers. Just browze and take what interests you.

Jayne

[shaubold]

We are also a debt free company, but in order to remain that way, some jobs have been cut completely, or hours cut. There has also been a hiring freeze. Therefore, I work for two full time executives (the President and the COO)since we are not hiring any support staff at this time. Cost saving implementations that have been taken to save money through this economic downturn are:
- scan and email as much as possible rather than printing
- printing is sent to a bit slower central printer that has been paid for and only prints in black ink. We only pay for the ink and paper on this printer.
- printing on the large color printer is only done when absolutely necessary. This saves on colored ink, and cuts down on the copier counts that we have to the leasing company on the machine.
- I ordered company stationery that did include the Executives name and title pre-printed on top right corner. I have created a word template that includes this information in the header so that I can print it as needed on necessary correspondence. This allows the standard stationery to be used for several departments and people without the additonal cost of customized printing where we order the letterhead from.
- The office has started a Lending Library where we have gathered as many professional development books into a central location for use by anyone who wants to borrow them. We have also added a DVD series. This is saving a lot of budget money on training tools. Since I certainly will not be able to attend an Administrative Professional Conference this year, I utilizing this opportunity and have included it in my SMART Goal worksheet for the year.
- When scheduling travel for my Executives I always research airline costs and compare rental car companies for the best deal. I also use the Entertainment Coupon Book for rental car deals, asking our President to carry the coupon to save up to $30 extra on one of the trips we arranged. I also go back to the airline several times up to the day of the flight to ensure that the price has not gone down and we miss a refund available to us due to a fare reduction.
- I schedule web conferencing and teleconferences as much as possible to eliminate out of town travel.
- When my boss's cell phone "died" I had to run out and get a new one immediately since he was traveling out of town a day later. We made sure to receive the mail in rebate of $70 from the cell phone provider.
- I researched the reason why the cell phone "died" and discovered through internet forums a way to reset the phone and resurect it. Since the old phone originally cost the company $300 and was only one year old, I got in back to working and sold it on eBay for a PayPal payment. I walked into the President's office on a Monday morning with $120 cash payment for the sale.
- I have cross trained on web page content management and design and printing marketing collaterals since our marketing specialist had her hours cut back. These are additional duties this year that were not anticipated.

Although time and money is not as available as it used to be, I am viewing each opportunity to do more with less as a way to show my bosses that I too can help impact the bottom line even if it is not directly reflected on their sales revenue line. It has definitely been a year of streamlining that has also resulted in new opportunities to learn or enhance my abilities.