PC maker Dell has asked its employees to consider taking up to five days of unpaid vacation in an effort to deal with lower-than-expected sales.

The company is also offering voluntary severance packages and has frozen hiring, with the aim of cutting 8,900 jobs. Dell believes the layoffs will help to cut costs in the face of weak global PC demand.

Dell chief executive Michael Dell announced the moves in an email to employees on Monday. A spokesman said the company expects further consolidation in the technology industry, and encourages companies to ride out financial turbulence by focusing on hard returns, rethinking businesses and investing.

"We are asking employees on a voluntary basis to consider taking off [up to] five days as unpaid time off as a flexible way to reduce costs for the company" said Dell spokesperson Jess Blackburn. "The intent is to better position Dell for long-term competitiveness," he added.

Employees have been asked to take the time off in the next three months. X

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