What is the down side to giving everyone a half day the day before Thanksgiving? Historically, the owner gave everyone a half day before Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year HR talked him out of it and the logic is so people understand reward vs obligation.

-Other notes;
-mediocre health insurance
-no 401k match
-no raises
-no bonuses
-(18 paid days - 8 holidays)
-60% of employees relocated for their jobs (small office)

All things considered, what are HR's boundaries in the decision making process and secondly, is this is a ligitimate reason (so people understand reward vs obligation)?

And you're bellyaching in THIS economy about a 1/2 day before Thanksgiving? Seriously, you must be joking. You have a job, albeit a job with no bonus, no raises, etc. And you're carrying on about 4 hours? Please. HR has no bearing in what the owners of the company want or can afford. Next you'll be carrying on that you want the day before and after Xmas off as well! You said you get 18 days off with pay a year. That is quite generous for any company to give to their employees.

If you don't like their 1/2 day off policy then try to get a job elsewhere and see how far you get.

The company can and will do whatever it wants to as far as giving paid time off to the employees. Get over it.

While the law madates certain paid holidays, that it. Where did you get the idea that time off, bonuses, health insurance, 401K match etc are entitlements?

These things are not entitlements. These things are given by employers to reward and retain employees. In this market, employers don't need to go out of the way to retain employees. Often they need to cut costs to avoid layoffs. They probably feel that the loss of productivity is more than they can afford.

The reason companies have traditionally given a half day on those holiday eves, is because workers tend to shut down anyway and not much work gets done.

So the downside is a loss of productivity. The upside is an increase in employee morale.

Things are tough all over. I work at one of, if not the, largest aircraft company in the world, and we are not even going to have a Christmas party this year. Will I complain? As long as I have a job , absolutely not.

Look at the unemployment rate, and then just be grateful.

Don't mean to sound harsh, but we are blessed to be employed at all in these times.