Sun to Require Time Off

Sun Microsystems Inc. is requiring its 38,000 U.S. workers to take the first week of July off, part of efforts to trim costs amid a slump in demand for its high-end workstations and servers. Employees can either take the days off without pay or use their paid vacation days, according to an internal memo confirmed by the company. All will receive a paid vacation day on the Fourth of July holiday. The memo was distributed less than a week after Sun said its fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 73% from a year ago and revenue failed to meet expectations. Palo Alto-based Sun has 43,000 employees worldwide.