Weighing Company Health Against Employee Pain

Joel Quadracci, president and CEO of Quad/Graphics, called his move a strategic one, made from a position of financial and industry strength. What is the litmus test for your company when it comes to deciding to reduce staff? The large public and privately held companies operate on a different plane, obviously. But what about smaller printers with far less people? Do you absorb some pain first, or make the move in the course of standard operating procedures? Is there a formula for determining when a cutback must be made?

How do you strike a balance between making tough decisions that can benefit the company's long-term health while keeping roster reductions at a minimum? We'd like to hear from you.