In these hard times,businesses are trying to avoid layoffs wherever they can. When production slows down and the orders stop coming in,one solution is to cut workers' hours and pay only straight wages with no benefits. But as the German state pays out a part of the lost wages,the worker still gets a large portion of his or her usual income.Shorter hours may sound like paid relaxation - more time for the grandchildren,the house and garden - but for Thomas Jung,it's been the most difficult time in his life. The 48-year-old foreman fears for his job. His employer,the synthetic materials refiner Albis Plastic,was one of the first companies in Hamburg to introduce reduced hours. Now Jung and his 400 co-workers are just sitting tight,hoping for a speedy recovery. It's a drain on the nerves ... and the wallet. A report by Carmen Meyer.
