Sometimes, it helps to look at it from the Manager/Owners point of view. I, too have asked my Department Heads to work longer hours to help quell the soaring costs of payroll.
However, before I did this, I sat them all down in a meeting and SHOWED them that our establishement has NOT made a DIME in 2009. In fact, we're about 400K BELOW budget and have a Net Operating Income of -125K year to date... which means... we're operating in the red. SHowing them that, let's them know that this isn't GREEDY CORPORATE AMERICA trying to increase a profit margin... I'm just trying to keep our doors open and keep as many people employeed as possible.
I also showed them that there "counterparts" in other places were getting laid off, so the alternatives could be worse.
After that meeting, I didn't have any complaints about Salaried Managers working over 50 hours a week (50 hours is what Louisiana State Labor Laws requires of from a Salaried postion). In fact, since my Department Heads make there own schedule and provide it to me weekly for approval, most of them are scheduling themselves at 60 hours, either 12 hour work days or 6 days a week at 10 hours per day.
At the end of each month, we collectively look at our EOM Profit & Loss statement and highlight the areas of savings. This way, it gives the individual manager some PROOF that his or her efforts did INDEED help... and usually, it's a substancial difference.
But yeah, Guis... that is a pretty long stretch. I plan on rewarding my guys at the end of the year, before Christmas... with some unexpected $$$ bonuses... I hope yor Manager does the same.
All you can do is take it one day at a time.