John Challenger Cost Quotations

The only clear picture we have from the job cut numbers this year is that employers appear to be confused about the direction this economy is taking, ... Companies are experiencing increased business, but they are also seeing their costs soar due to higher fuel prices, inflation in supplier prices and a weaker dollar, which makes it more expensive to buy foreign parts.

Even when the economy is fully recovered and companies are back in expansion mode, we may not see a revival in hiring of the rank-and-file worker. Cost containment oriented companies, in an effort to become more agile in this increasingly competitive global marketplace, will rely more an more on a just-in-time workforce of contract and contingent workers.

The cost may end up being much higher since it will now be possible to watch entire games on the Internet.

Retailers are being forced to turn into discounters at all levels, and that early transformation to a discounting posture is putting great pressure on profits. Retailers make a good percentage of their profitability in the last two months of the year. This year those earnings are going to be under real pressure. They'll be fighting to keep costs down.

I think they re going to have to offer a stipend to help their employees with the costs so much for gas. They are going to have to encourage use of mass transportation or look for workers that are closer in.

Many of the weakest firms no longer exist, and those once considered the titans of the Internet are trimming payroll and other costs to the bare minimum.

In these types of transactions, ... payroll is usually targeted first for cost cuts, yielding the best and quickest results.

Higher health care and energy costs for employers and employees are definitely taking a toll. Companies are being forced to enact more cost-containment measures to protect profits,