CUTTING COSTS

March 8, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

CUTTING COSTS

What companies do

Cost-cutting changes made by 245 large U.S. employers:

Slashing work weeks: 13 percent in February. Up from 2 percent in December.

Instituting a hiring freeze: 56 percent in February. Up from 47 percent in December.

Instituting a salary freeze: 42 percent in February. Up from 13 percent in December.

Reducing 401(k) matches: 12 percent in February. Up from 3 percent in December.

Instituting travel restrictions: 69 percent in February. Up from 48 percent in December.

Source: Survey by Watson Wyatt Worldwide Inc.