Three tech giants extend holiday hiatus

SAN FRANCISCO - Hewlett-Packard Co., Apple Inc., and Adobe Systems Inc., three of Silicon Valley's largest technology companies, will shut down over the December holidays to save on operating costs.

Apple is giving employees eight days of paid leave starting Dec. 24, while HP and Adobe have asked workers to use vacation days to augment the paid holiday days they receive for Christmas and New Year's Day, the companies said yesterday. All three typically close for a number of days every December.

HP, which usually closes for a week, asked employees to take additional vacation days next month so it can shut its doors for two weeks, starting Dec. 22. Workers at the company, the world's largest personal computer maker, will receive four paid holidays during that time. They're being asked to take off six vacation days, three more than usual.

"Shutting down during a period when many employees traditionally take vacation helps HP achieve operational savings," an spokeswoman said.

Apple is offering paid leave between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2 to all its employees, a spokeswoman said.