Nothing new
HPE were doing this when I was there.
10% Rate cut demands
Easter "Furlough" - 4 days
Summer "Furlough - 8 days
Christmas "Furlough" - 10 days
All sprung on you with no notice. When you aren't there the increasingly sparse, and non overtime earning, permanent staff get battered to cover the gaps. They can't and customers suffer.
I won't work for them again, they either want the job you were employed for doing or they don't. I worked a "professional" day so they were already getting at least a free day a week off me as it was but they still had to take the piss and push it.