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Hey, remember this morning, when everyone was talking about what a cool party Miramax threw at the American Film Market? Well, the Miramax Left Behind (the "lucky" ones who escaped the layoffs) have had any fond party memories (whether firsthand or vicarious) erased by the latest in a barrage of morale-downsizing memoranda. This time, Miramax changed its holiday vacation time policy on the fly, eliminating the end-of-year paid holidays and forcing what's left of their workforce to take the time as vacation days—long after most have already made their plans. There are rumblings that this new policy came straight from Harvey Weinstein's Grinch cave, complete with Scroogian cackle. [Ed.note—Are there any other holiday bad guys left to squeeze in that sentence?] Employees are so happy about the news that they're all out following every dogwalker in Tribeca, "shopping" for Weinstein's holiday gift with plastic baggies. The memo follows after the jump.

From: XX

Sent: Tuesday, November 9, 2004 5:47 PM

Subject: POLICY CHANGE: HOLIDAY SKELETAL WEEK

MIRAMAX FILM CORP.

POLICY MEMORANDUM

TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

DATE: November 9, 2004

RE: Holiday Skeletal Week (Week Between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)


This policy memorandum modifies the manner in which the days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are treated for vacation purposes. Please note that this policy memorandum amends and supersedes any policies covering the same subject matter in the Employee Policy Manual or which have been otherwise previously communicated.

Effective immediately the Company will no longer treat the days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day as paid holidays. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day will each continue to be a paid holiday (with the Christmas Day holiday this year being observed on the preceding Friday, December 24, 2004, and the New Year’s Day holiday being observed this year on the preceding Friday, December 31, 2004).

As a result of the change in Company policy set forth in this memorandum, if you wish to take off from work on any days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, you will need to use accrued vacation days. Similarly, as a result of this change in Company policy, “comp” days will no longer be granted to full-time employees who work during the period between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

If, as a result of the change in Company policy set forth in this memorandum, you wish to change the schedule of vacation days that you submitted in connection with the Vacation Usage and Accrual policy memorandum, dated October 7, 2004, please resubmit a revised schedule, approved by your supervisor, to HR no later than December 1, 2004.