I took the first week of December off for some much needed R&R and when I returned to my desk Monday found that I'm not alone in stepping away this month. Unlike many others, though, my time off was voluntary.

As downward revisions of December quarter guidances flow as steadily as pink slips this month, reports are swirling of company-enacted manufacturing plant shutdowns in what seems to be a heavy trend compared to previous years. Samsung, Spansion, TI, and TSMC are among those reportedly shutting down manufacturing sites at the end of the year for up to three weeks.

Such action is nothing new -- it allows companies to lower operating costs during a typically slow demand period -- but with some shutting their doors for nearly the whole month, hundreds of industry employees are taking unpaid, involuntary time off this holiday season.

The execs making these decisions will tell you that the actions are necessary and in-line with the current market, driven down by the financial crisis. That may be true. Some execs will even tell you that such action allows the companies to avoid layoffs because it allows a temporary cost-reduction. That may also be true.