Friday, July 25, 2008

Despite missed buyout goal, Detroit nixes layoffs

Great news -- and Crain's Detroit Business has it here: "No one will be laid off because the Detroit Media Partnership didn’t reach its July 18 goal of 150 voluntary buyouts, partnership CEO David Hunke said Friday."

My hunch: The 116 volunteers included a boatload of folks pulling down really big paychecks. That meant Hunke could hit his number, with 34 fewer lost jobs.

Earlier: Detroit gets just 116 volunteers for 150 buyouts

Any marquee names among the 116 volunteers? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.

8 comments:

  1. As a Partnership employee it sure would have been nice if he had told us! No notification via email, loudspeaker or old style inter-office memo. It's just another example of the typically poor communication between upper management and staff in Detroit....

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  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  3. Dude, that's painful. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. can you actually post her entire column without violating copyright rules? Don't think so.

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  5. At 11:38 a.m.: I agree on the copyright question raised by @9:13 a.m. You are free to repost your comment, adjusted accordingly. Here's what you originally said, up to column reprint part:

    Some of the bigger names among the folks taking the buyout are the Detroit News' wonderful football writer Mike O'Hara (he told folks it was time for him to retire after 42 years at the paper) and Susan Ager, the Free Press' humorless and dreadfully self-absorbed columnist. She had a penchant for writing about herself and the virtues of nakedness. That's right: nakedness. Readers in Michigan are relieved that they won't have to wake up in fear of reading columns like this one:

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  6. okay my interest is piqued, can you post a link to the column?

    On a buyout related note, how is Gannett avoiding age and / or ADA related lawsuits with these buyouts?

    In Phoenix all of the buyouts are targeting folks over 53, and most are over 55. Coincidently, many have or are battling significant health issues, like broken limbs that haven't healed, cancer, spinal injuries (related to work) and the like.

    It seems awfully odd that the only jobs being eliminated are those of 55 year olds.

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  7. Use this version: Some of the bigger names among the folks taking the buyout are the Detroit News' wonderful football writer Mike O'Hara (he told folks it was time for him to retire after 42 years at the paper) and Susan Ager, the Free Press' humorless and dreadfully self-absorbed columnist. She had a penchant for writing about herself and the virtues of nakedness. That's right: nakedness. Readers in Michigan are relieved that they won't have to wake up in fear of reading columns in which Ager contemplates her navel and marvels at how interesting she is for the 1,000th time.

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  8. Today is the first day of my buyout. I'm not a journalist – I worked in production so bear with my ramblings. The only thing different this week is the lack of dread hanging over me as I get ready for the day. I feel like a great wait has been lifted off my shoulders. That place was a cancer eating at my soul.
    I can't help but think off those who could not take it and feel trapped. I worked with some wonderful people and will miss them. The newspaper industry is about profit . Quality journalism and doing service for the community have dropped off the radar long ago.
    Detroit is not the best market to be looking for new employment, but I will get along fine. When you can do nothing to improve your work environment, it is time to leave. When did incompetence, ass-kissing and backstabbing become so valued in our society?

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