Sukemi also has had to learn to do a lot more, since she was forced to lay off her staff of sewers and cutters.

CNN: CRISIS COMES HOME

Apparently, Ms. Stiles, under orders to cut her budget by 25% (remember that recession?), opted to take a 40% reduction in her own personal salary rather than lay off a member of her staff, making her a heroine of the state.

FORBES: Suze Orman Says "No More Sacrifice"

During her lay-off she has been taking classes in fashion design at an art school in Fort Lauderdale.

BBC: Williams sisters 'to take a break'

Fourth seed Williams breezed through the opening set in just 37 minutes after losing her first service game, and showed no signs of rustiness after her lay-off.

CNN: Venus brushes aside Schnyder in Rome

One of her first moves was to lay off 10% of the work force and chop payroll costs by 25%.

FORBES: Eye of the Storm

The Briton won the tournament in 2008 and will be looking to regain her form following a lay-off with a hip injury.

BBC: Anne Keothavong

The logical thing is to lay off one and save the cost of his or her salary.

CNN: SURVIVING THE DEAL

Yet there was something of the anxious little girl about her as she set off into the unknown on that last fateful journey, knowing the dangers that lay ahead.

BBC: Jim Muir's tribute to Marie Colvin