The NHL lockout is now in its fourth day on Wednesday, and there doesn't appear to be an end in sight quite yet, which is unfortunate for owners, players and hockey fans alike.

It's also quite unfortunate for NHL employees as well as team employees. Some NHL teams, namely the Florida Panthers, have already started laying off workers. Now, per a CBS Sports report, the league will start having its employees work four-day work weeks, beginning Oct. 1.

Per Chris Johnston of the Canadian Press, the NHL met with its employees and let them know they will be working four-day work weeks starting Oct. 1. That's great, right? Of course not. It also comes with the commensurate drop in salary. So now the league employees will get 80 percent of their salary instead of the full amount due.

The good news is that it could have been much worse for the staffers. Losing one-fifth of your salary isn't easy, but it certainly beats the alternative of losing all of your salary and benefits.

The article goes on and states that layoffs haven't been ruled out yet.

It's unfortunate for fans of the sport that the lockout has occurred -- but it's even more unfortunate for those who are losing their salaries and jobs as a result of another unnecessary lockout.