The company offers the top brass a wonderful chance to selflessly play noble philanthropist -- with someone else's money. They aren't required to kick in a dime of their own, even though many of them are millionaires several times over. For example, in 2004-06, they had a golden opportunity to return $424,000 -- and much, much more -- to the approximately 100 communities with Gannett newspapers and TV stations. The money could have gone 100% to food kitchens, Girl Scout troops and other causes in the very communities that enrich Gannett's coffers -- and the executives themselves. Indeed, some money did make its way back.But too much went instead to communities far from any Gannett businesses. The executives steered the money to their alma maters and to other pet causes that may well deserve support -- but not as much as the ones back home. Are these executives's egos so fragile, they require constant phone calls and letters from fundraising classmates and neighbors, thanking them for their generosity?
Do I hear a roll-call vote for Craig and the family to go back and donate dollar for dollar out of their own personal finances?
ReplyDeleteYes. The first vote is in.
I second that off with his head
ReplyDeleteThe troops in the field have to match their hard-earned grant donations.
ReplyDeleteWe had no idea this was going on at the top.
Then talk about us getting strong-armed by publishers who are on United Way, arts boards etc. to give to their pet causes with our money...lots of pressure.
Forgive the fiscal responsibility they have to squeeze out of us it's business but this shows a comany that has lost its moral compass.
Do you really need a third vote? This makes me sick! Still can't beleive that this goes on. How arrogant can this senior management team be?
ReplyDeleteThe thing is Jim NOTHING WILL HAPPEN! They think they can do whatever they want. There is a seperate set of rules that they follow. Meanwhile, back at the local business unit, things are bleak. Morale sucks. Everyone is looking for a different job. This sort of behavior certainly doesn't help. It really is joke what this company has turned into.
Living the dream, that is the koolaid right? Back to reality, tomorrow we are having a "goodbye" ceremony for 5 graphic designers whose jobs were outsourced to India. They had to work all month, just knowing they were leaving. Well tomorrow is the last day of the quarter. I wonder if cutting back will bring the company profits.
ReplyDeleteOf course, cutting back means you also suffer in the long term as we are all now not loyal.
Who moved out cheese? The CEO's that still get their bonuses in the millions, and their foundation that lets them keep their selfish money, which is built upon the profits.
In the end it's a vicious downward spiral. Oh wait, the bonuses were not down. Just the company and employees.
I totally understand outsourcing as many of the company's jobs to India and China as possible, including senior level directors and corporate staffers. However, while Gannett continues its downward financial spiral, this outsourcing will just speed the pace of the company's unwinding. Employees and the folks in those communities are not disposable.
ReplyDelete