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Nissan gives U.S. workers two unpaid days off as America sales slump

Dec 06 (Japan Times) - Nissan Motor Co. is making its U.S. factory and office employees take two days off without pay amid slumping sales.

The company’s U.S. sales this year are down 7.8 percent through November.

Nissan says nearly all of its 21,000 U.S. workers must take Jan. 2 and 3 off without compensation. A company statement says the furloughs will “optimize business performance and competitiveness.”

All of Nissan’s U.S. factories and offices will be affected by the furloughs, including the North American headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, near Nashville. Nissan and Infiniti dealerships will remain open.

Most Nissan and Infiniti luxury brand models in the U.S. are in a sales slump, including the company’s top seller, the Nissan Rogue compact SUV, with sales down 12.6 percent so far this year.

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