NOTE 22. RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER CHARGES

2009 Restructuring Actions

        In 2009, we executed restructuring actions in response to a reduction in orders in most of our U.S. and foreign markets due to the deterioration in the global economy. We reduced our global workforce by approximately 1,000 professional employees. In addition, we took numerous employee actions at many of our manufacturing locations, including approximately 3,200 hourly employees, significant downsizing at numerous facilities and complete closure of several facilities and branch distributor locations. Employee termination and severance costs were recorded based on approved plans developed by the businesses and corporate management which specified positions to be eliminated, benefits to be paid under existing severance plans, union contracts or statutory requirements and the expected timetable for completion of the plan. Estimates of restructuring costs were made based on information available at the time charges were recorded.

        In response to closures and downsizing noted above, we incurred $2 million of restructuring expenses for lease terminations and $5 million of restructuring expenses for asset impairments. During 2009, we recorded a total pre-tax restructuring charge of $85 million, comprising $90 million of charges related to 2009 actions net of the $3 million favorable change in estimate related to 2008 actions and the $2 million favorable change in estimate related to earlier 2009 actions, in "Restructuring and other charges" in the Consolidated Statements of Income. These restructuring actions included:

        In addition, as a result of the restructuring actions described above, we also recorded a $14 million curtailment loss in 2009 in our pension and other postretirement plans. See Note 12, "PENSION AND OTHER POST RETIREMENT BENEFITS," for additional detail.

        At December 31, 2010, of the approximately 4,200 employees affected by this plan, substantially all terminations were complete.

        We do not include restructuring charges in our operating segment results. The pre-tax impact of allocating restructuring charges to the segment results would have been as follows:

        The following table summarizes the balance of accrued restructuring charges by expense type and the changes in the accrued amounts for the applicable periods. The restructuring related accruals were recorded in "Other accrued expenses" in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.