As the PC sector and US economy as a whole continue to show little signs of improvements, some high profile companies are forcing their employees to take paid vacations as well as eliminating jobs. Compaq, Sun, and HP are forcing employees to take at least a week off before the end of the year, and the three will be closing operations this holiday week in the US. Apple remains one of only a handful of companies that has yet to announce layoffs during the past year’s economic slowdown.