Cutting loose a single employee can require a three-member team: their immediate supervisor; an H.R. representative, and someone from IT. The supervisor and H.R. deliver the bad news in a private meeting, explaining severance terms and other details. While this is going on, an IT worker is likely shutting off access to the computer network. (In some cases, a fourth employee might be assigned to pack the worker's personal possessions, to be handed to them as they leave the building.)Suppose this process takes 30 minutes per worker. A three-member team could handle 16 layoffs in eight hours. But what if it's a bigger paper, with more cuts to make -- like The News-Press in Fort Myers, Fla., where the publisher has already warned of about 80 layoffs? One team would need 40 hours to run through that many people, so there would likely be several teams, working simultaneously.
Earlier: Questions to bring to a meeting where you'll be laid off
[Image: today's News-Press, Newseum]
Our plan is to announce names over the p.a. system tomorrow morning, asking the affected to join us for a quick meeting at the loading docks.
ReplyDeleteSeems less painful than pulling people one at a time from each department.
I don't believe you, 9 pm.
ReplyDeleteGood call, Jim. But somebody in Jersey will run with it.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the security guy.
ReplyDeleteSecurity guy? Ha. Our ppaer eliminated those jobs 5 years ago.
ReplyDeleteAnd what if the person is in the middle of working on something - a story, say, or designing a page? Does that just get thrown in the trash can along with the computer access?
ReplyDeletewhat gannett really needs is a system that will automatically remove access to all computers that a users may access to. this would simplify the process on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteIf you are in the middle of working on something, that's it. It's over as soon as you are called in and get the word. You won't have computer access shortly so you wouldn't be able to finish it anyway. And they will want you out of the building immediately.
ReplyDeleteSo is Monday, Dec. 1, the day? Or Wednesday, Dec. 3?
ReplyDeletei am in IT, so i think if i get laid off, they will have me take care of all the other people first, then my last duty will be to lock out my own network.
ReplyDelete9:34pm... As Ed McMan (sp?) used to say to Johnny..."You are correct sir".
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly how it will happen! Been there done that! Your email will be turned off while your in the little "room of doom" getting your pink slip. They will have a box handy for you to pack if they don't already have it packed before you get out of your meeting. They may even kick you in the A$$ on the way out the door! (Kidding), but it sure does feel that way! I speak from experience (August Layoffs).
Second 9:13... While not a Gannett paper, here are a couple of cautionary tales from the LA Times which are typical of what is happening in the industry.
ReplyDelete-- In the middle of a sports shift, the sole layout editor was called in to face the ax. There was no one on duty in sports to finish the shift. Oops!
-- Several members of the internet staff arrived for their shifts only to find that their computer passwords didn't work. That's how they learned they had been cut. Oops!
It doesn't take 30 minutes.
ReplyDeleteThe actual length of time of the person laid off sees will vary in that some have more concerns than others. But averaging a person every 15 to 30 minutes seems right.
ReplyDeleteAfter the person leaves, there is a period where you have to wait while they pack up their stuff and hit the road. If the supervisor has to watch that, the next layoff can't occur, until the supervisor is cleared to bring the next one in.
A photographer at my site learned of his layoff when he returned from a mid-day assignment to discover his key card wouldn't let him in the building.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...
ReplyDeleteThe worst I've seen - from another building - was a 1,500 person layoff back in the mid-1990s, but not in the publishing sector. Everyone was brought outside (can't remember the excuse to do so), then the crowd was addressed by bull horn with fully armed security guards flanking the company flack. Only the non-fired employees were allowed back into the building and the others were processed *outside*. And this was in early January of that year.
Second worse - again, not part of the publishing sector - was when my IT team was hustled into a video conferencing room and everyone was given a new organizational chart. Anyone not on the chart was fired. Everyone on the remote end of the video call could see the chart as it was held up to the camera for them.
Being an IT guy later at GCI Corporate, all the other firings and layoffs I've witnessed were a let down by comparison.
It was 6 p.m. and I was 200 miles from the office returning from an assignment. My editor called me on my private cell phone (not the company one mind you) and delivered the news. He seemed unconcerned and unsympathetic. The only justness in all of this was that he got canned about nine months later for non RIF reasons.
ReplyDeleteAt the NYT regional papers, newsroom employees got a 45-day notice. Commercial had to leave right away, but had time to collect their own things. And I am no NYT Co. But you have to wonder about a company that has so little respect for its employees, and expects so much anger, that it would chase them out of the building that way.
ReplyDeleteIt is my understanding that if you have a company laptop, they can disable it by remote. Meaning you get the call, are asked to bring in your computer, which won't work anymore anyway.
ReplyDeleteI hope they do the layoffs today. I hate the tension - a month already! - and it's just torture to draw it out any more.
Republic co-worker was in LA for a company business trip. When he returned Sunday to the company parking garage his employee badge
ReplyDeletedidn't seem to work. Security Guard pulled out a list, checked him off walked around to his windshield and scrapped of his sticker without saying one word.
I wonder how many of her female buddies will Skippy in Hattiesburg be able to save from the layoffs. You have to be a women to make it there. Very bad work environment.
ReplyDelete11:31 AM - Not correct, at least out in the field. However, who knows what secret alien technology they have at the Crystal Palace. :)
ReplyDeletewhen a friend was part of gannett layoffs in 06 (or was it 05) he got an email when he logged on in the morning. his presense was needed at a manditory meeting. when he showed up there were 4 other sooned to be layed off people in the room. they were told together and then sent to other rooms where HR explained the severence package to them. they were then escorted to their desks to pick up some personal stuff and told to call their imediate boss to schedule when they could get the rest of their belongings. they were then escorted to the door.
ReplyDeletelater az pressman