Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wednesday | Jan. 14 | Your News & Comments
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141 comments:
Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."
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I'm thinking quite a bit about Gannett's printed features sections.
ReplyDelete9:35 PM,
ReplyDeleteI'm overhearing snippets of conversations, observing behaviour and seeing managers/supervisors in meetings. As someone else has said, something is happening. My guess is restructuring and possibly lay-offs and my gut tells me most likely by the end of the week.
RE features sections
ReplyDeleteI hate the papers on days without features sections. If I hadn't already cancelled my subscription, I'd cancel my subscription! (In case you're wondering, I often read it at my gym or the coffee store in the morning.)
Fort Collins is outsourcing all of its printing including USAT to DNA Around 50 people will be let go because of this
ReplyDeleteHas that finally been announced? I ask, because I've been hearing rumors about that for maybe six weeks now.
ReplyDeleteDNA??
ReplyDeleteThe layoff rumors continue, but we aren't hearing much from anyone who seems terribly credible.
ReplyDeleteJim: Have your tipsters said anything about severance in the supposedly upcoming layoffs? Does it sound as though GCI would offer a week's pay for every year or might they cut this round back to two weeks flat?
Assuming anyone has the option to volunteer, I'm thinking this round would be the one to go in. If they're desperate enough to demand unpaid leave, we have to be looking at smaller severance packages pretty soon.
Jim:
ReplyDeleteAre you thinking about the features sections because you've received some sort of credible tip or just because they seem like obvious targets?
I'm curious because I was surprised that so many survived the last round of cuts.
RE: Home Delivery Outsourcing
ReplyDeleteThe Gettysburg Times (in a Friday, January 9th, 2009 article) said "it is more cost effect to have the professionals handle home delivery;" as a result they are outsourcing to Publishers' Circulation Fulfillment.
We my HOME DELIVERY bretheren, it's only a matter of time before we go the way of the dinosaurs.
NOTE: Asbury Park Press is eliminating ALL carrier collect subscriptions to "Help the Carriers Save Time;" in actuality the move helps to facilitate transfer of Home Delivery Operations to P.C.F. As was done at the Daily Record in Morristown(Parsippany) in Novemeber and as will be for the Courier News in Bridgewater in three days.
It's been good working with you (carriers & employees). Good Luck.
Hey 3:00AM
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the rumors about New Jersey printing being outsourced to A.F.L. Printing.
RE: UNPAID WEEK OFF.
ReplyDeleteBlue Collar Here.
Over the last decade I've averaged 60-to-200 Hours of UNPAID OVERTIME (not entered on my fake time-sheets) Per Year (because I was afraid to lose my job). At 37.5 Hours Per Week that's 1.6-to-5.3 of UNPAID TIME. How much F*cking more do these C*cksuckers want to rob from us.
CRAIG, If you try to pull this off, and want to attempt to keep what little respect 97% of your workforce has for you, you had better cut your pay -your ACTUAL PAY- to no more than $300,000.
One interesting thing to consider with the overtime, my time-sheets that show me off for a particular day have me getting Re-imbusement Payp for Work-Related Mileage/Use of my personal car.........hmmmm I wonder if that's a "Smoking FLSA Gun."
Any thouhgts out there??
5th.Horseman.of.the.Apocalypse@live.com
I hereby declare 7950 Jones Branch Dr. a LEADERSHIP-FREE WORK ZONE.
ReplyDeleteAll employees should feel free to implement whatever plans they feel might help the company during this difficult time, because our CEO and CFO are boobs who have no idea how to run a business -- other than sucking out money to fund a senselessly large dividend, and padding their own pockets in the process.
Unlike some posters on this blog, I love my job and where I work. But it saddens me that two such clueless boobs have free reign to screw a company so badly.
The features rumors are literally making me sick. This level of anxiety over the course of more than six months now is so unhealthy for everyone.
ReplyDeleteFt. Collins outsourcing printing is one more example of why this company is failing. Instead of outsourcing why aren't they going after more business? Obviously other comapnies are making money being commercial printers, why not Gannett?
ReplyDeleteWhy are Poynter and journalism schools still in business? They're still preaching, but there's no choir.
ReplyDelete"Everyone has to take a week of furlough this quarter; directors in five day increments; hourly can have their time broken up. Announcement comes tomorrow. Doing this to avoid layoffs this quarter."
ReplyDeletethis came from a memo
why does gannett want to alienate women and retirees by dumping features? readers howl like banshees if there's a problem w/their crossword or dear annie, and women still make the majority of purchasing decisions.
ReplyDeletesurely it would be smarter to use wire coverage for teams' away games and keep more local features content such as concert and exhibit previews. not everyone in our society is fond of the jock-ocracy.
If the week off with out pay rumors come to fruition, and wages are not cut at the top.....there will be outrage across the company amongst the worker bees.
ReplyDelete10:01 -- how legit are you? is that memo credible, and can you at least give a state in which you're located?
ReplyDeleteIt is more about printed features sections seeming like POSSIBLE targets, as a result of simple process of elimination.
ReplyDeleteClassified advertising sections, and then business news were the first to go. Sports coverage seems to be disappearing with the consolidation of printing at a growing number of newspapers. Local news would be the last to go, so what's left -- other than features?
Unifying production of the features section in McLean makes real sense. We are already heading for a one-size-fits-all theme with ConceptOne. Consolidating other pages would leave just the front page, local sports, and the obit section for the papers to fill. Look for Corporate also to put out a centralized Superbowl special section.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the features clarification Jim. I was just wondering about your thought process.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking the same as you, but there are some papers that still have multiple features sections, so I'm not sure how deep the cuts would go. I was just wondering if you had received an inside tip on this one.
6:53 -
ReplyDeleteDo any of your mileage vs. days off fall within the last 3 years? If so, file, file, file.
10:28 -- I think there's already outrage. I'm far angrier about the recent layoffs than about the prospect of a week without pay.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong. I don't like this either. But the only people who aren't outraged now are the ones who either aren't paying attention or are comfortable keeping thier heads in the sand and praying for the best.
In an earlier post I predicted that GCI will lose the majority of its talented employees once (if) the recession comes to an end. Those with options won't stay with a company like this any longer than they have to.
It may not matter to upper management because many of them will probably leave cash happy in the coming years, but it should matter to anyone who is thinking of GCI as a long-term investment. Some people think the moves we're making are a favor to investors. They aren't.
We don't owe stockholders a quick buck. We owe them long-term viability and a steady increase over time. We have provided a company on the verge of collapse and a remarkable decrease over a period of months.
to 10:30: My information is credible. It comes from higher management. I am from Florida.
ReplyDeleteI know this is a Gannett blog, but no comment about the Hearst/Seattle PI situation?
ReplyDeleteThis just in from Dubow ...
ReplyDeleteToday Gannett is implementing a furlough program across all U.S. divisions and at corporate headquarters. This means that most of our U.S. employees - including myself and all other top executives - will be furloughed for the equivalent of one week in the first quarter. This furlough will be unpaid. Unions also will be asked to participate.
We are doing this to preserve our operations and continue to deliver for our customers while confronting the issues raised by some of the most difficult economic conditions we have ever experienced.
After much consideration, we decided a furlough program would be the fairest and least intrusive way to meet these fiscal challenges in the first quarter, which is traditionally the lightest time of the year. We sincerely hope this minimizes the need for any layoffs going forward.
As the day goes on, you will be receiving information from your division presidents explaining the program, including some FAQs to help answer any of your questions and address your concerns about pay and benefits.
We have made some very difficult decisions this past year, all with the goal of keeping Gannett strong and preparing for the future. I understand I have asked a great deal of you, and I regret adding to your burden with this program.
But my sincere hope is that this step removes the need to do anything more drastic, and that business conditions improve. As always, I thank you for your patience and loyalty to Gannett.
11:52 am: Perhaps you missed this post of mine about the situation involving the Post-Intelligencer in Seattle.
ReplyDeleteVIA E-MAIL Jan. 14, 2009
ReplyDeleteTo: All US Community Publishing employees
From: Bob Dickey
The national recession is worsening and companies across America, inside and outside of our industry, are taking bold steps to help offset the current situation.
Like others, Gannett has had to make some very difficult decisions over the past year. Having to reduce staff, reformat newspapers and end delivery to some customers has had a deep impact on our company and all of us. We have consulted with many of you on how to minimize the impact on our readers and customers.
With your help and commitment, we have continued publishing quality products and populating Web sites daily. We are innovating and growing our digital businesses. We are working to emerge from this downturn with new energy and new solutions for our customers. Due to our financial management, Gannett remains an industry leader.
Unfortunately, the advertising environment is still difficult and the economic issues unprecedented. We must take additional steps even as we focus on growing our local readership and market share revenues.
As a result of your feedback, and in an effort to minimize the need for more layoffs, I have decided to take another approach as we enter 2009. To that end, every non-represented employee in the USCP division will be furloughed for five business days during this quarter. That includes me, your publisher, everyone. Unions will be asked to accept furloughs in lieu of layoffs. We all will be sharing the financial hardship.
To be clear, a furlough means you will not work and will not be paid for furlough days.
Exempt, salaried employees must take one full payroll week within the pay period. Non-exempt, hourly employees may take five days at any pre-approved time before the last weekend in March.
If you are not sure which category you are in, check with your Human Resources representative. Also, a fact sheet is attached that should answer any questions you may have. If not, talk with your supervisor or email me at rdickey@gannett.com.
I am determined to maintain our operations, provide the best local news and information for our readers and help keep Gannett a healthy company. I thank you in advance for joining me in achieving this goal.
How does this fit in?
ReplyDeleteI'm a weekend subscriber to the (Wilmington DE) News Journal. Downgraded a few weeks ago from 7 day home delivery a few weeks ago to save some money. (Laid off, you know)
Today they called me and told me they are going to deliver all 7 days for the weekend price for the next SIX MONTHS. Nice. (Now if I could just do that with the cable company.)
I've heard of upgrades, but not for 6 months. So if you can't sell the thing, just give it away.
...and in an effort to minimize the need for more layoffs...
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking that unpaid week off. Oh and by the way, we're still going to lay you off.
can someone post their q/a sheet info?
ReplyDelete12:10
ReplyDeletethat's standard circulation practice. we've done 12 month upgrades also. less time putting on and off, notifications etc. plus if you get them the magical 378 they are "hooked" (I say that in jest, another overhyped corporate iniatitive.)
I'm hearing February layoffs are imminent, regardless of the furloughs.
ReplyDeletenot too sure how this is going to paste.. but heres the q&A
ReplyDeleteQ. Why has the company decided to do furloughs?
A. Experts are forecasting continued economic weakness for many months to come. While we need to continue to reduce expenses to ensure the overall health of the company, we also need to continue our operations and deliver for our customers. Several alternatives to layoffs have been proposed, but the one that seemed the fairest and the least damaging to our operations at this time was a furlough program. We hope it will minimize the need for layoffs and give us more time to monitor and assess the economic trends and realities.
Q. Is everyone going to participate?
A. All levels of employees in all divisions in the U.S. and the corporate staff will participate to some degree, depending on a variety of factors. That includes U.S. Community Publishing, which is beginning its program immediately; USA TODAY, Broadcast and Digital. Union represented employees will be asked to participate in lieu of layoffs. Top executives in the company are participating. Newsquest is taking other expense reduction measures at this time.
Q. This is a financial hardship for me. Can there be an exception for me?
A. There will be no individual hardship exceptions. We encourage all employees to make use of resources such as the Employee Assistance Program (See question “What other resources do I have…”).
Q. Will there be any exceptions at all?
A. Certain essential employees will be granted exceptions as a group. Also, there will be exceptions for newly hired employees and for other individuals and units who are impacted by other expense reduction measures.
Q. How much money is the company saving by doing this?
A. Each unit has been asked to supply an estimate of the savings. A final number is not available at this time.
Q. Won't this compromise our ability to do our jobs, produce our products and satisfy our customers?
A. We think doing another round of layoffs at this time would impact our operations more. Furloughs, while a scheduling challenge, provide more flexibility for our businesses and provide more value for our customers.
Q. Why does this have to be done in the first quarter? Couldn't we have more notice?
A. The first quarter for most of our operations is comparatively quiet and the volume is less. Plus, economists believe the first half will be the most difficult. Action needs to be taken now to continue to bring costs in line with revenues for the first quarter. Waiting until later in the year may magnify the problem and result in more stringent action.
Q. Does this mean there won’t be any layoffs this year?
A. The goal is to reduce the need for layoffs, but that decision entirely rests on what happens with revenues during the rest of the year. No final decision has been or will be made at this time.
Q. Does this mean the company is in really bad shape?
A. Not at all. This means we are taking action to avoid the plight of some other companies and industries. Gannett is a solid company and we want to stay that way. Instituting furloughs at this time is a sound financial move by a sound company that is facing severe economic conditions.
Q. Have other companies done this?
A. Many companies outside our industry such as the auto industry routinely use furloughs to cut costs or manage inventory. Some of our peers are doing this or considering furloughs and/or other cost reduction measures at this time.
Q. Why can't I take a pay cut instead?
A. Pay cuts, salary freezes and reduced work weeks are other methods of reducing costs that have been considered and may be considered in the future.
Q. Can I give up a week of vacation instead?
A. No, because vacation days are paid so there is no savings to the company.
Q. Why are the rules different for hourly and salaried employees?
A. Hourly employees and salaried employees are subject to different rules set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Basically, salaried employees are paid for a week’s worth of work, not in smaller increments.
Q. May hourly workers take furlough time in part-day or hourly increments?
A. At this time, we are asking the furloughs be taken in full day units.
Q. If a salaried employee works while on furlough because of an emergency, can he or she then take a new furlough week later?
A. Every exempt (salaried) employee will need to complete the furlough as one full payroll week. Furloughs need to be scheduled so back-up personnel are available. If that is not possible, the furlough will need to be undone and rescheduled.
Q. Does the furlough include part-time workers?
A. Yes. The furlough should be based on their scheduled or variable time and should be a week’s work of time.
Q. Can I use part-time people to fill in for furloughed workers?
A. Not if it expands their hours and costs more.
Q. Can a salaried employee work on the weekends?
A. There can be no work done during the payroll week at all so it depends entirely on the employee’s regular schedule and their regular days off. See the chart below, which shows that a pay period is one week long, regardless of how often an employee is paid (weekly, biweekly or monthly).
The chart below gives examples based on a Monday to Sunday payroll week. There are other payroll periods used in the Company.
X = furlough days within the payroll period; D.O. = day off
Work sked Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Mon- Fri X X X X X D.O. D.O
Tues- Sat D.O. X X X X X D.O.
Wed-Sun D.O. D.O. X X X X X
Thu- Mon X D.O. D.O. X X X X
Fri-Tues X X D.O. D.O. X X X
Sat-Wed X X X D.O. D.O. X X
Sun-Thu X X X X D.O. D.O. X
Q. How will my furlough be scheduled?
A. Furloughs will be scheduled so that normal operations can continue without interruption during the furlough period. You will have an opportunity to discuss your schedule with your supervisor, who ultimately must decide what works best and what you need to do to prepare for your being out.
Q. Why can’t I do any work while I am out?
A. There are very specific rules that must be followed. Federal and state laws require that employees, whether hourly or salaried, must not work while on an unpaid leave. That includes reading or responding to e-mails, calling or responding to calls from colleagues and being on site at your location at any time during your furlough days.
Q. Who will cover my job while I am out?
A. You and your supervisor should discuss how your responsibilities will be handled while you are out. If you have a company e-mail address and/or phone extension, you should leave a message directing people to the employee designated to reply in your absence.
Q. If an employee works while on furlough because of an emergency, will he or she be required to take a new furlough at a later date?
A. Everyone will need to complete the five-day or one payroll week furlough requirement. If there is an emergency and you need to return to work, a new furlough will be scheduled for a later date. Your supervisor must approve your return to work in advance.
Q. What happens to my benefits while I am out on furlough?
A. Benefits such as your health and life insurance continue during your furlough. Deductions for your health and optional life insurance coverage will be taken out of your paycheck for any week in which furlough day(s) are taken. You will continue to earn vacation credit during your furlough. If you participate in the Gannett 401(k) Savings Plan, no participant contributions and company-matching contribution will be made for the time you are not paid while on furlough. You are not eligible for a distribution of your pension benefits while you are out on unpaid leave. Garnishments will continue to be taken.
Q. Am I eligible for state unemployment benefits while I am out on furlough?
A. Unemployment benefits vary by state. Some states have waiting periods before unemployment benefits commence; others do not. You should contact your local unemployment office for more information.
Q. What other resources do I have to assist me while I am out on furlough?
A. Your local Employee Assistance Program can provide counseling or direct you to resources in your community to help you and your family through this difficult period. As a reminder, the Gannett 401(k) Savings Plan provides you with the ability to borrow from your account, provided you are eligible under the terms of the Plan. More information is on the Plan’s website at www.ybr.com/gannett, or you can call the YBR service center at their toll free number: 866.343.2333.
Human resource is directing us to community service organizations for help, if we need it, during the furlough.
ReplyDeleteGood God! Fatten stockholders pockets while draining already over burdened charities!
The features hammer should be announced next week
ReplyDeleteFlorida here again: The 12 percent cuts are still expected
ReplyDeleteQ. How will my furlough be scheduled?
ReplyDeleteA. Furloughs will be scheduled so that normal operations can continue without interruption during the furlough period. You will have an opportunity to discuss your schedule with your supervisor, who ultimately must decide what works best and what you need to do to prepare for your being out.
Bullshit. I'll just work MORE hours while people in my department are "out." There will be a shit-ton of "interuption."
Anon@300, 359: DNA = Denver Newspaper Agency, which handles advertising, production, printing and distribution for the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News. Also prints the Boulder Daily Camera.
ReplyDeleteIf Fort Collins outsources printing it wouldn't happen unless the Rocky is shut down.
I've heard of upgrades, but not for 6 months. So if you can't sell the thing, just give it away.
ReplyDelete1/14/2009 12:10 PM
What this does is artificially inflate circ numbers, while at the same time the company spends more on the newsprint, ink, and delivery costs. What savings they hope gain by the forced unpaid time off will be eaten up in the markets who give their papers away to make the circ numbers look good.
Who does this wonky Math anyway?
Thank goodess for the voluntary buyout! 2 weeks pay for every year of service and not have to put up with this type of crap any longer!!
ReplyDelete1/14/2009 1:15 PM
ReplyDeleteYou are exactly right. There is NO way to do this without interruption. I already do 2 jobs, but get paid for 1. Wonder if I'll have to take 2 weeks.
Who does this wonky Math anyway?
ReplyDelete1/14/2009 1:33 PM
1 - The HD sales director attempting to hit a quarterly financial bonus incentive.
2 - The publisher at a certain major metro who constantly brags about the yr/yr daily circulation "growth".
1:15 to 1:51, thanks for the laugh out loud, my only one today.
ReplyDeleteWhat about those of us still receiving severance? Will we have a week cut?
ReplyDeleteHey 1:36 p.m.:
ReplyDeleteWhere are you getting TWO weeks pay for every year of service???
The two weeks pay for every yeary of service came from the voluntary buyout Gannett offerd in August of 08
ReplyDeleteFunny. At the Customer Service Centers of Excellence (the DAMN COE's) there's also an expectation that every $10/hr CSR take a week of furlough......and they are walking out the door even as we speak.
ReplyDeleteSo - COE management does what? Well, you guessed it, they are HIRING MORE PEOPLE! Talk about wonky math - these people are just utilizing POOR judgement at every turn.
I heard that some outsourcing was in their future....anybody else heard anything about that?
I was a HD guy - I was a Sales guy - I was a Gannett guy - today has sealed my fate as an EX-Gannett guy.....
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/business/media/15paper.html?hp
ReplyDeletecheck this out!
IN N.J. CAN WE APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT ON THIS WEEK OFF ?NJ has a waiting week so it might be to your advantage to apply because if you get layed off in the near future you can reapply for unemploment and your waiting week will have been meet .Just a thought folks .
ReplyDelete"The two weeks pay for every yeary of service came from the voluntary buyout Gannett offerd in August of 08"
ReplyDeleteI got laid off from Gannett in August of '08 - heard nothing about a voluntary buyout, and only got 1 week per svc. yr.
Suddenly, I feel screwed all over again.
The obituaries for Gannett and the New York Times have been "prematurely written," says financial columnist David Sterman, who writes for Real Money at www.thestreet.com. The article is highlighted in the Poynter Institute newsletter today.
ReplyDelete"Weakness at many Tribune, Hearst and McClatchy properties creates a clear opportunity for Gannett," he says. But he also calls on the company to radically slash its dividend.
Here's a Yahoo link to the Gannett piece:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fit-to-Print-Survival-in-the-tsmp-14050413.html
"If you participate in the Gannett 401(k) Savings Plan, no participant contributions and company-matching contribution will be made for the time you are not paid while on furlough."
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Very interesting.
Well, I'm exempt, and during the furlough weeks of my co-workers, I'm definitely not going to put in more than my required 7.5 hours a day of work.
ReplyDeleteI normally come in early, leave late and eat a sandwich at my desk just to get my own work done, but I'll be punching an imaginary clock those four weeks.
The trick they're pulling on us is that they think those covering for the furloughed will just work the furloughed hours for free. I know of only a couple of people in the whole newsroom who aren't exempt from overtime.
Are you saying something is going to happen to the Classified sections? I am the classified manager at my site. Is this the newest rumor?
ReplyDeleteQ. Why does this have to be done in the first quarter? Couldn't we have more notice?
A. Because we are laying you off in the 2nd quarter.
If I recall correctly, what was then Gannett Westchester Rockland Newspapers had a furlough in 1990 or 1991 (does anyone remember the exact time frame?). Not sure if that was company-wide.
ReplyDeleteThe difference then is when that recession ended, Gannett and other chains entered a new period of unprecedented prosperity.
Now, when this recession ends, Gannett may still be a profitable company, but its properties will be shells of their former selves --even more so than now -- and will stay that way.
The furloughs are just the beginning, as anyone now working in features knows all too well.
As a former Gannettoid, I wish you all well and know that you deserve far better.
Wait a minute. So, we have to pay Gannett money the week we're off to cover part of the "benefits" of medical/dental/vision/life insurance?
ReplyDeleteThat math doesn't work for my household budget. My mortgage takes more than half my takehome now. I guess my family doesn't get to eat that week of "furlough." I doubt if food stamps will kick in for us.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteThe commitment toward features at this metro started slipping some months ago when the advertiser-friendly custom publication titles and staff were folded into the newsroom/information center.
Home newspaper subscribers now regularly see feature section cover stories that appeared first in the custom pubs. But since those magazines also are inserted with the newspaper in some zip codes, my part of town sees the story FIRST in the custom pub and a week or so later on the features front.
I understand not all subscribers receive the magazines. But most of my neighbors wouldn't know that, and must wonder why they're getting the same features package twice.
Furloughs announced today.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-389-enquirer-no-pay-for-you_.html
Just another example of "Gannett Excercises..NOW bend over !
ReplyDeleteWhere will the common feature pages be paginated?
ReplyDeleteWonder if higher-ups were told to use this so-called "furlough" period to see which positions can most easily be eliminated.
ReplyDeleteWe have a contract at our paper, so if Corporate thinks they are going to shove this down our throats without first consulting the union, they have another think coming. We aren't accepting this.
ReplyDeleteThis furlough thing has left me with such mixed feelings:
ReplyDelete1. One week without pay is better than no job at all.
2. If Gannett is stooping this low, what's next?
3. How much profit does a company have to make before it's satisfied?
Our features section eventually will be folded into the metro/state section, and the features people are now either already gone or will be joining the regular news desk ...
ReplyDeleteThe Q&A said the health of the company was great! But this seems like such a blatantly duplicitous answer.
ReplyDeleteIf Gannett were prospering, why pillage the product, lay off staff and furlough workers. A little honest, please.
You wonder if the "higher ups" will use this time to what?? To evaluate? Are you joking? Unless you DID the boss or are Doing him/her you lose. Camden has the highest paid prostitute.
ReplyDeleteWhat's next?
ReplyDeleteDropping the contribution to the 401K
Reduced Health Benefits
Cap at 3 weeks vacation
Centralization of all web functions with just a local feed
Dropping photos
Centralizing National Sports
Making you pay for your own computer
Dropping features
Cutting the Edit page to 3 days a week
Having you pay for parking
Having you work in the dark
Pay toliets
Having salespeople buy ads instead of sell them
I will take one week furlough after they eliminate the three levels of management in arizona! This is sheer repulsively all about money for the higher ups who are making triple didget incomes. Oh and they are going to take a week off too! Wow that would be easy for me too if I made 100,000 too. Hey even these supervisors who have been working six hour workdays for years should be forced to work their full shifts!!
ReplyDeleteWho else is exempt from this required furlough?
ReplyDeleteFrom an E&P report:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003930086
Would someone tell Corporate Gannett that the freebee papers that Westchester is tossing onto lawns throughout the Metro area aren't working !!! We have all these orange bags all over the place ( some homes have as many as eight all over the driveway) Ain't working and with the financial crisis advertisers would shit if they saw this.
ReplyDeleteWhy are we working for this company?
ReplyDeleteWhoes doing whom in Camden?
ReplyDeleteThe Tennessean loses its well-known celebrity columnist, Beverly Keel.
ReplyDelete-Tom
Newsroom meeting was held in Wilmington this afternoon to discuss implementation. Requested dates are due by end of the week. They're going to load everyone's names and requests into a spreadsheet early next week, and see how it comes out - if there are enough people to keep the LIC functioning. When dates conflict, seniority will be the deciding factor.
ReplyDeleteANOTHER NJ PROBLEM:
ReplyDeleteI took a voluntary buyout in May, and no one ever replace me in that job. I am now applying for unemployment since my salary continuation ran out. The claims rep at unemployment told me to "brace myself" because the decision will probably come down that people who take voluntary buyots cannot collect unemployment.
I have to wait a month (because of the high volume of claims) for a telephone interview.
Has anyone experienced this situation in NJ, and what was the outcome?
My option is to try to live on early Social Security benefits since I'm not at the age when anyone is hiring in this economy.
Any advice from those who have already faced this buyout situation would be greatly appreciated.
Did I read something that said this doesn't apply to new employees?
ReplyDeleteThis whole furlough program sounds like they are going to try getting out the paper without the full staff............hmmmmm and when the stocks jump a wee bit you can bet you will see the layoffs since in effect you proved to the company that all employees aren't needed to run the buisness! Sounds like a scheme or project where the people with stock options win! How low can the top go for a mere dollar...................immersuable pure greed!!!!Did you see the memo of what the ceo made............like 9 milliom dollars! And lets not forget about their golden parachutes........sounds like craig need to fly an airplane into the florida swamps on autopilot like the guy that did!
ReplyDeleteSuppose people would be pissed anyway this payroll reduction was made. The larger picture is that this company has two "broken legs" and the execs are trying to fix the problems with a band aid. Not to get down on copy editors, but does Lansing REALLY NEED 20 when it only has 50 true newsroom staffers? Does it REALLY NEED to have more than 20 newsroom managers and supervisors when it only has 50 newsroom employees? The answer to both of the questions is no. Every time I hear about that property having so many freakin' copy editors I think of a "how many people does it take to screw in a lightbulb" joke. The ultimate problem is not copy editors, though; it's problem with the people calling the shots: they are outdated relics who have yet to understand how to manage during a transitional period of change. It's not like people didn't know this problem was a potential disaster on the horizon. Gannett is operating in chaos mode. I just don't see an end to this vicious circle whereby the company actually is destroying itself much quicker than Internet competition will. I suspect that in the future Gannett will be a big lesson in business schools on what not to do when faced with certain failure.
ReplyDelete3:48 If the unions don't accept furloughs, our union says there will be layoffs. Here is the email from the Indy Guild:
ReplyDelete"Your Guild is keenly aware of today's announcement by corporate about one-week, first-quarter 2009 unpaid furloughs. We have already
contacted the Newspaper Guild/CWA to get their advice and explore our
options, given how it appears to be only mandatory for employees here
who are exempt from the contract. Corporate suggests in the memos
released at noon that layoffs would be in store for the unit if the
union doesn't agree to a furlough
"We are in information-seeking mode and will respond to you; in the
meantime, feel free to send us your recommendation as you digest 'what this means.' We're looking into see if there's the possibility of
unemployment benefits or freelance opportunities."
Steve @3:05 -- reprinting my post from a different thread on Westchester furloughs.
ReplyDeleteWe did unpaid furloughs at Westchester in '92. I don't remember all the details -- I seem to recall it was one day a month for a quarter or two.
As far as I know, that was just a specific management response in Westchester to making their numbers during the recession. I'm not aware that other papers did it, but that was pre-Internet, so we weren't as well informed about what others were doing.
Having just come to Westchester from the Arkansas Gazette, which shut down entirely in late '91, I wasn't shy about saying, don't complain -- be glad you have a job. I don't think that made me very popular with my new colleagues.
How will Margaret Buchanan, Cincinnati’s publisher, get her lunches delivered and made now? For that matter, how will all the suits across Gannett get their personal needs attended to during this difficult time?
ReplyDeleteIf this doesn't finally wake them up to knock off their highly-questionable usage of staff time, then nothing else will.
President Obama- please save us from these fools.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I like: If you are not salaried, but hourly, you may not be able to take your "furlough" in one lump sum so you can use it as your waiting week for unemployment if absence makes your department have OT! First, you get screwed losing a whole week's pay, and then they screw you by telling you when and how you can take your unpaid days off, while Craig Dubow and others just like him will be on luxury vacations during their "furlough" week, since they are salaried they must take their week off in one lump sum! That royally sucks! They roto rooter the profits out of all the small sites, and then roto rooter the pockets of the blue collar workers while they are at it. Why doesn't Dubow and his dwarfs give up their salary for this year?
ReplyDeleteBest part of the Wilmington meeting was when the immediate past president of APME said he wasn't an "industry guru," but wished he was.
ReplyDeleteWill there still be layoffs even after this furlough debacle?
ReplyDeleteSo, does anyone have an idea how much money this will save Gannett?
ReplyDeletePer Crain's Detroit Business, workers at the Free Press are exempt from the furloughs.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090114/FREE/901149960
6:10
ReplyDeleteIt's not just blue collars getting screwed by this - it's also journalists aka reporters. They are non-exempt under FLSA and so they too cannot take their time off in a lump sum - and so are screwed out of unemployment insurance.
It didn't have to be this way, you know. This is Gannett taking care of management, pure and simple.
What a surprise!
replacing AP articles with USAT - aagghh.
ReplyDeleteUSAT has about as much depth and quality as a tabloid...
6:58: So tell me, how is all the work supposed to get done by the ones left manning the Titanic while the others are off on "furlough"? At our site, ALL OVERTIME HAS BEEN FROZEN! We are supposed to get the work done without OT, modify our hours, come in later, leave earlier, etc. but you are still short 40 hours. The math does not compute. Are they complete and utter morons? Or do they think we are actually going to have loyalty and bust our asses for this joke of a company? For what, to get laid off the first week of February? I don't think so. Yea, we still have a job, but I don't think lining the pockets of Dubow and his little dwarfs appeals to me. I think I will be sick a lot on those furlough days.
ReplyDeleteI worked in Westchester during the earlier furloughs.
ReplyDeleteThe so-called exempt workers were told to take a day off w/o pay, while the lower-wage, non-exempt workers were told to come in every day but work only seven hours instead of seven and a half.
Needless to say, no one actually got to up and leave after seven hours, but that was hardly the worst overtime abuse I experienced there.
I am glad to see that the Free Press is working so hard at losing money that they aren't affected by the furlough. Huzzah!
ReplyDeleteYou can't make this shit up!!!
ReplyDeleteI bet that the GODS are being taken care of in other ways to offset there lose
Look at the NJ Group. What imbeciles. As a whole they can't wipe The Ledger's ass.
ReplyDeleteWho hasn't done Whom in Camden is the question.
ReplyDeleteFor those interested in the Coloradoan outsourcing - if it happens, and I believe it will, it will not be just production affected, circulation will also be outsourced to the Denver News Agency. It's going to affect a lot more people than most people may realize. The only real question left for most of us is exactly when it will take place. I was told we would get a 60 day notice if the company has to lay off so many people, but I don't trust that. If anyone has reliable information on a timeline for the outsourcing, please share! There are a lot of employees and a hundred carriers that would be able to make a plan for the loss of income if we could just get someone to tell us when it will take place.
ReplyDeleteRepeat after me: STRIKE!
ReplyDeleteCan the New Jersey people please take a little initiative and check the website of their state unemployment office for benefit information? It's getting a bit old asking every other post what they are here. Let's put some effort in here.
ReplyDelete7:19: The Free Press is exempt from the furlough because they're facing a major reduction in force as they change their publication schedule. You want to reap that benefit? Why don't you transfer to Detroit?
ReplyDelete6:33
ReplyDeletesure there will be layoffs after the extra-added vacation time!
The best time to schedule the gifted time off would obviously be the last week of the quarter - otherwise you may be screwing yourself out of one of your final weeks of pay with Gannett...
With only one week of no pay, you may find it difficult to qualify for traditional assistance sources such as food stamps, reduced-price school lunches, and welfare benefits.
ReplyDeleteMany of those programs ask for "annual" income, and it usually takes time to get the application approved anyway.
There may be "no questions asked / no application required" financial assistance or money-saving resources in your community. There are some in mine.
But that access depends greatly on your community's funding and support for such things.
I doubt if any Employee Assistance Program will have those local resource details to share unless the staff is VERY familiar with your community / zip code. You might do just as well by calling your United Way agency, or use your own journalistic memory as to who provides what services in your community.
EAP is better suited for big-picture issues such as "how do I set up a family budget?" and "how do I cope with stress?"
2:38
ReplyDeleteat my place the august layoff was not voluntary and it was one week for each year. not sure what other guy was talking about. can you clarify, Jim?
Ft. Collins-
ReplyDeleteCheck your state- ours had rules about "large scale layoffs" and advance notice.
Do you have a Union? That changes the rules, maybe for the better. Good Luck
Oh Cincinnati... You make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:51..I know you are talking about HD Director and Margaret in Cincinnati - How true How true..
Anon 5:47 again Cincinnati... Margaret's Lunch... You must be a disgruntled admin. By the way be sure to plate up her meal with silverware and napkins.
As for the two-weeks for severance. That was approved for Cincinnati back in August. Margaret stated she went back and fought for her people. Well, I got axed in December and got one week. From word of mouth...the next round will hit in February..
Here was Margaret's elightening memo for the furlough
TO: All Non-Represented Employees
FM: Margaret Buchanan
Earlier today, U.S. Community Publishing President Bob Dickey announced the company’s plan to furlough all employees for one week within the first quarter.
Your manager will be getting in touch with you – or may have already done so – regarding the scheduling of your furlough days. We need to have these dates finalized and submitted by this Friday, January 16.
As Bob stated earlier, the advertising environment remains difficult and economic conditions are unprecedented. The company’s decision to furlough employees was the least objectionable way to reduce payroll expenses. In the meantime, we need to keep focused on providing the best local news and information for readers and advertisers.
I appreciate all of your efforts through these difficult times and look forward to better days ahead.
Margaret
*******
Let's see other things Cincinnati should be expecting. Elimination of redelivery - if they haven't done it already.
Elimination of the Single Copy Department that will switch over to Home Delivery and they will set accounts up for stores. They have already seperated HD sales from HD circulation. Then put SC sales into the HD sales department.
Granted, advertising may be down - but if the company can't take a hit until the economy rebounds - there will no longer be a paper because Gannett and the decision makers at local papers are making poor business decisions. They have let go of a lot of higher paid higher quality people. Thus leaving an inferior paper because it is now being ran by inferior people.
I stopped reading all newspapers in my area - because they are owned by Gannett and I refuse to use Cincinnati.com and other affiliated sites. As well, many of my friends and family no longer use or read Gannett owned products.
I say let the people tell the Big Company that we are no longer going to stand for poor quality.
Oh' and Cincinnati will be undergoing another price increase.. Again more money for a smaller and inferior product.
I may be on unemployment but it is better than working for Gannett.
Hearing the news that Gannett was furloughing all of it's employees disapointed, but certenly didn't supprise me. Gannetts top brass just doesn't get it. They are so far out of touch with thier hard, underpaid employees scraping to buy groceries and pay bills. Top dog is going to take a week off too without pay and take a 17% cut in his 7.5 million annual compensation that includes stock options. Whoopie. Why don't you mr. 30-50 million dollar man forgo your entire compensation for the year and keep your employees working and getting paid!!!!
ReplyDeleteGannett sends jobs oversees to India and reduces it's US employee base. Gannett is unamerican and greedy. Serves you right that your stock is worthless.
All you fourloed employees should file for unemploment for the week you will not be paid for!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Gannett Corp. has announced in Neptune & Freehold, N.J. , the Asbury Park Press, that every employee will be required to take a one week leave of absence without pay by 3/31/09 . I have seen this letter, and believe it is company wide.
ReplyDeleteIsn't this the truth
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV9mwug4I8Q..
The furlough will also be used to see who they could do without and still get out the bullshit produc. There will be a round of layoffs soon. Followed by another round that will cut deep with a list of expendable employees gathered from the furloughs. Get use to it, this shit will never end.
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't suprise me if this "FULOUGH" thing become's an annual thing,once they find out how much more they can sock away
ReplyDeleteIf your bargaining unit refuses to accommodate the furlough, you will not see another contract. At the very least, your unit will bear the brunt of the April layoffs.
ReplyDeleteThe company has more than enough expertise, technology and will to move any job to another site. You will be locked out, your sister paper will produce theirs and yours, and the back of the union will be broken.
Try an advertiser or reader boycott to drum up support? In this economy, with these numbers, just who is left to boycott?
Our local forum hounds have been particularly kind in their comments regarding our fur-low story, especially to local employees. Perhaps because they've been in similar (or worse) situations themselves.
ReplyDeleteNot a lot of sympathy towards the 'big-wigs' they imagine at the top, however.
I don't think this is a way to figure out who's expendable for future layoffs. No. 1, that would be too smart. And No. 2, that's almost impossible to determine when folks are taking scattered days off, as they're being encouraged to at my site.
ReplyDeleteOf course, if we're talking exempt folks - managers and editors - that might hold true. I feel sorry for my ACE. She's not paid enough for the grief she's getting.
As usual, they didn't evaluate the entire decision before acting. They should have excepted sales reps from the furlough. Think of the revenue that will be lost by the entire Gannett sales staff not working their territories for a week. Anyone in the sales end knows their territory doesn't get worked to the same degree when someone is covering, and I'm sure they will lose a lot more revenue than was saved having the rep stay home and do nothing. As for me, I'm going to relax that week and do some serious job hunting.
ReplyDeleteIf Dubow and Martore find this first furlough to be a "success," they'll find a way to do a furlough every quarter.
ReplyDeleteThe August cuts in staffing varied from paper to paper. In Cincinnati, a Voluntary Severance Program was announced that gave those accepted into it 2 weeks of pay for each year of service up to 52 weeks. It also continues health and life insurance benefits through the severance period.
ReplyDeleteI was accepted and am getting 52 weeks - no furlough - plus my pension. And I already have another job.
Yes, there is life after Gannett. And it can be lucrative, too. The pension payments are going straight into CDs as part of my new retirement savings plan. Those of us who were bought out can no longer contribute to our 401Ks, because our severance income is considered "unearned." Ha! I more than earned it over 25 years of working 50-80 hours a week. I also am socking away as much of the severance as I can and using some of it for training for a new career.
The writing was on the wall and for once in my life, I saw it. It was not an easy decision, but I have not had a single moment of regret since I made it.
Don't let those __ssholes lull you into thinking that there won't be layoffs in the near future. Ad sales are horrible and getting worse. As the local papers cut back on everything from content to paper, etc., circulation will decline even faster and any advertisers who are still running ads will go away too. Don't wait around fellow Gannett people, start making plans to get the hell out on your terms. Yeah the economy is tough but if you start looking earlier enough you will get out of this hell on earth.
ReplyDelete9:02
ReplyDeleteNaive, naive, naive.
Yearly?
Try quarterly!
6:10PM & 6:58PM - WTF? "...this is Gannett taking care of management" How is that? We're all losing 1 week. I'm exempt, which means I lose a week's pay in a 1 pay period. Where as, my staff can spread it out over 10 weeks, 1 day per pay period, if they want. I wish I had that option. In Florida, you can not get unemployment for a 1 week furlough.
ReplyDeleteSo how will taking our sales reps off of the street for a week each help our Q1 numbers? Gannett logic hurts my brain.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you salaried people. At least I can spread my days out.
Hey, people-in-the-know...are we still getting layoff notification letters on Jan 20?
It's time for Cramer to put Debow on his wall of shame.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree that this "furlough" thing will likely became more of a regular event. Why didn't Gannett just cut deeper in the last round as opposed to announcing these new payroll reductions only SIX WEEKS later? Why didn't they announce the furlough when they cut all of those other people SIX WEEKS ago? I suspect that a lot of people who survive these cuts will leave Gannett and newspapering once the economy recovers. You just can't keep telling people of more layoffs every few weeks. It sends a very bad message to your employees AND advertisers about the state of your company and your ability to manage calmly. doh, doh, doh
ReplyDelete10:40
ReplyDeleteand while you're out, don't forget to file for unemployment - even if your state has a 1-week waiting period. You can't do that if you are FORCED to take it a day at a time - and please don't tell me that you honestly believe anyone who is non-exempt will actually be allowed to schedule their week off all in one blow.
re: pay - I don't see the logic.
5 days without pay is 5 days without pay, no matter how you schedule it.
Is it true that in Florida you can not collect unemployment for the one week of not being employed?
ReplyDeleteI do think the folks at the top are trying to be as nice as possible about these layoffs. I'm sure that at least some of the corporate folks have a conscience and view the layoffs as a negative reflection on their ability to right the ship. The problem is that layoffs are not nice, positive events. They are horrible and awful for those who are the victims and the friends/colleagues left behind to sort things out. Gannett is very much a company that is trying to find its way during a very bad time for the industry and economy. I do think that Gannett blog has been a positive development for our friends at the top: It has given them some good solutions to problems/challenges while also allowing them to look more inward at the dynamics of local properties.
ReplyDeleteI guess we need to figure out what is fact or fiction. So many talk about why do we stay. How many jobs are waiting for any of us with plus years of experience? I have applied for jobs for the last two months with no reply and I have over 10 years of experience in numerous areas and a BFA degree. The sad reality is there are so few jobs available and the younger set is getting those jobs. That is why I stay. I am starting my own business but it will take time and the programs I need to do the market research. Please don't anyone say”Why do you stay” some of us have no choice. If it was that easy we would of been gone long ago. We have to stay to have health benefits, dental and a 401K and to live in our homes. This is not a choice. We either declare bankruptsy or don't survive.
ReplyDeletePoint to ponder: Wonder how many vacation hours you will lose for this week long furlough? Vacation is earned and if you take time off...you are not earning vacation. Does anyone know?
ReplyDeleteThe whole situation is so sad. Valued employees with 10plus years of service thrown out the door. The sad reality is that no one cares. Even the youngsters, they think they are
ReplyDeletehere for life. How sad to break the reality to the 20 something kids. They don't get it. They think Metromix and the young reader pubs will save their jobs. They are so disillusional. It will all catch up with all of them. The old timers are not the first layoffs. Open up your minds and smell the coffee. Youngsters are not immune to layoffs. Don't be so high on you horse about the old timers. We just may outlive the Metromix kids when it goes by the way side
I read that we will have to pay our health/dental/vision benefits back because of the week off. Which means we owe a ton after the week without pay. Can anyone shed some light on this? If we have a loan on our 401K, i assume that loan is also deferred and also no contributions to our 40K from us or Gannett.
ReplyDeleteScrewed loyaly.
A week of unpaid time off in the first quater??? Oh my!
ReplyDeleteOf course, who's to say there won't a furlough in the second quarter? And the third??
This furlough, of course, is really a pay cut for all employees.
Man, am I glad I quit Gannet years ago....!!! Whew!
11:25 PM,
ReplyDeleteIt was explained to me that vacation time will not be affected by this. If you were to earn 3 weeks vacation in 2009, you will still earn 3 weeks vacation in 2009.
Your health benefits are fine. They are not affected.
ReplyDelete8:25---Sorry to sound crass, but I'm pretty sure the Free Press isn't "accepting applications" at this time. This is hard on everybody, but if a paper is losing money, that paper should be part of the cuts. Why should a small, money-earning paper with lower employee wages (like Green Bay for instance) be cut when they are undoubtedly still making loads of cash. Will these cuts improve their product? No, the cuts will hurt their product and their readers/subscribers and advertisers will see it. To use a GM analogy: If people want small cars and not Hummers, you don't close the factory that makes Cobalts.
ReplyDelete10:52-Actually you will not be considered as unemployed.....You are still employed by GCI....so I doubt that your unpaid week will even be considered as a "Waiting week" even if you were to get laid off later on in the year. This is by no means fact...just my gut feeling as I have been dealing with the FL UC system for quite some time now.
ReplyDeleteSorry to bust you bubble 10:40 but at our site all of the hourly employees in production have been asked to take a full week off instead of a day at a time. heck the HR folks even asked the Unmeployment people to come to our buidling and meet with us.
ReplyDeleteHeh 11:37 we are glad you quit too! I'd rather have tim eoff then lose my job. I'll say hey the next time you greet me with, "Welcome to Walmart!"
ReplyDeleteTo: 7:28PM YESTERDAY... The NJ State Unemployment website doesn't give the answers to the questions and the phone lines (as in other states) are now virtually impossible to access. So.... the questions remains: If you have taken a VOLUNTARY BUYOUT are you entitled to unemployment benefits after the continuation pay runs out? My job was never replaced, so the voluntary buyout (if not taken) would have been followed by a layoff.
ReplyDeleteCan someone in NJ who has already had this voluntary buout experience please tell me what happeneded re: unemployment?
Thanks!
6:58 PM wrote:
ReplyDeleteIt's not just blue collars getting screwed by this - it's also journalists aka reporters. They are non-exempt under FLSA and so they too cannot take their time off in a lump sum - and so are screwed out of unemployment insurance.
It didn't have to be this way, you know. This is Gannett taking care of management, pure and simple.
What a surprise!
-----
Apparently you have not been paying attention.
Hourly employees can take either a 5-day week or 5 individual days.
As a salaried employee, I am REQUIRED to take a full week. I wish I could take 5 individual days to spread out the pain a little, but instead it'll be a full week without pay.
In this case, I'd say the hourly employees are getting the better end of the deal, if something like that can be said about this fiasco.
New Jersey Employee: Buyouts have generally been set @ per years worked. They have now limited that to a max of 26 weeks. Most likely, should you accept a buyout, you will not be eligible for unemployement until the 26 weeks have passed. Severance pay on the other hand is different. You MAY collect UI during that period. You MAY NOT collect UI if you are considered on "CONTINUATION PAY". Gannett Corporate in McClean tried to screw the N.J. employees with that scam. LOL ! The state of N.J. is aware of the practices of GCI. Stay tuned................
ReplyDelete