Veteran Gannett employee Susan Ihne (left) claims in a lawsuit brought in North Carolina Superior Court that Citizen-Times Publisher Randy Hammer began verbally abusing her soon after he was named the paper's chief executive in October 2007."He made statements to her threatening her job and ordered her not to call the corporate headquarters concerning him,'' her complaint filed yesterday says. "He also told her that she could not forward his e-mails to anyone without his permission."
Hammer dismissed Ihne in May 2008, when she was 52 years old, her suit says; she got the job in October 2005. Ihne is claiming age and sex discrimination, and seeks more than $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages, plus attorney's fees. In addition to Hammer, she names as plaintiffs Gannett and the Citizen-Times.
There is a copy of Ihne's complaint, here. Gannett Blog readers have been chatting about it since the news was first posted, here. Hammer has not responded to my request for comment.
Earlier: Fear factor -- probing Gannett's mean-boss legacy
Got a mean boss tale to tell? 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.
Thanks for the post, Jim. I was always curious about what happened, especially since she seemed to be golden in Gannett's eyes...
ReplyDeleteWhat a gutsy thing she's doing. This will do nothing but make things better for thousands of workers---win or lose.
ReplyDeleteWould a publisher act in such a manner unilaterally, without some kind of wink from corporate?
ReplyDeleteThat the Defendant, Gannett Co., Inc. was negligent in hiring,
ReplyDeletesupervising and retaining Randy Hammer as the Publisher of the Asheville Citizen- Times. That upon information and belief, said Defendant was aware that Randy Hammer was an incompetent employee before he was selected to become publisher of the Asheville Citizen- Times. In addition,upon information and belief, said Defendant was aware that Randy
Hammer was an incompetent employee while he was working as the Publisher of the Asheville Citizen- Times and prior to May 1, 2008. That the reason Randy Hammer was an incompetent employee of said Defendant was that he had a history of and had exhibited a pattern, practice, scheme
and modus operandi of treating female employees, ages 40 and above on the job, in an abusive, hostile, and harassing manner prior to May 1, 2008.
In spite of full knowledge of Randy Hammer's misconduct toward older female employees, the Defendant, Gannett Co., Inc. hired and retained Randy Hammer to be the Publisher of the Asheville Citizen- Times; and
also failed to properly supervise him.
You go, girl - make them cringe!!!! I love what she is doing and that more employees step forward to shake up management about this abusive behavior from people in power positions.
There are so many unqualified "publishers" out there one wonders how they got a job as Publisher in the first place.
Well, as the sayings gos: Is not what you know, but who you know! What a shame!
Interesting that there was another post about Hammer doing similiar crap at other papers. Slamming doors, screaming at people, belittling good employees. I have two good friends, both women, both highly regarded, who were verbally abused by this person. I won't call him a man. One was fired and one quit when they stood up to him. He's got some personal issues with four-five marriages but it's really his professional behavior that is getting him nailed right now. Good luck Susan!
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope she's doing okay. Susan, if you're reading this, hang in there.
ReplyDeleteLikely coming to the APP soon, similar action against the harassment of the EE, who has an interesting track record (known at corporate) as well.
ReplyDeleteSusan Ihne is a very talented editor who should never have been treated this way by Hammer. Stay strong, Susan.
ReplyDeleteThis behavior is classic Gannett thuggery. It's familiar to anyone who has worked for Mark Silverman in Detroit, Lousville, Westchester, Rockford and Nashville. There's the screaming. The use of meetings as a form of public humiliation. The under-the-breath sexist and homophobic utterances. The erratic decision-making. And all of it is known by Corporate and, especially, by that dimwit Phil Currie, who last work day is today.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Phil: You'll be deposed for this lawsuit soon enough.
Phil's successor, Kate Marymont, also knows about Hammer firsthand.
ReplyDelete11:33!!!! Wow! I could not agree more! The dimwit Currie also plays a role in the abuse.
ReplyDeleteAnd not all the abused employees were women, I can tell you. Abusive, little dictator-style publishers thrive in the Gannett environment. That is why this suit will be so wonderful.
I am contactuing her attorneys to let them know that I will be more than willing to be deposed to trstify that to the pattern of ugly, vile, vicious, mean-spirited, vindictive, abusive publishers in Gannett.
BUT they are even more rampant in the smaller Gannett community newspapers in Wisconsin and Ohio. THAT is where the real powderkeg lies for gannett! If the employees at those smaller papers ever stepped forward, it would crush this company! PLEASE! Step forward folks in Wisconsin and Ohio - tell your tales of abuse. Contact her lawyers and make this a done deal!
I'm curious if Hammer only does this to women? From what I saw first hand was the imtimidation of women over 40 who were in positions of authority.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many crappy publishers in Gannett that such litigation might even qualify for "class action" status. Hope others join it, but it will be a struggle, considering Gannett has the coins to drag out and nearly bankrupt plaintiffs.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, go get 'em.
-- Just A Big G retiree in Ohio.
Someone asked about the law firm's reputation. Kennedy & Kennedy is steeped in civil rights practice in North Carolina. And probably of more concern to Gannett is they've beaten Wal-Mart at this type of litigation.
ReplyDeleteWithout naming names or newspapers, a Gannett ME was a real piece of work. He shouted, he intimidated, he was as dumb as a rock - but at the same time believed every morsel that came out of his mouth was pure Pulitzerian gold.
ReplyDeleteAnd so, believing he could do no wrong, it came to pass that he started fooling around with the letters editor in quite a public manner.
It was hilarious, sad, and made us all incredulous at the same time. His higher-ups took a dim view of the matter finally, so she went off to law school, and he's been at several Gannett papers since then, and is now an editor at one.
The letters editor? She returned to that city with her law degree, got a job in the prosecutors' office and brought down the county prosecutor in a (sordid, for this backwards city) scandal.
The big issue here really is about whether or not Gannett’s senior management ranks have created hostile work environments for their employees - while the top ranks watched; it’s about how to best utilize our collective knowledge to help Ihne’s fight, ultimately improving Gannett’s leadership ranks.
ReplyDeleteAs such, does anyone know if her law firm would share here exactly the type of info they’d find most helpful versus all of us making calls on our own?
I'm sick of hearing the Silverman crybabies. I worked for him and he tough, but fair to GOOD workers. I think a lot of the Silverman stuff comes from people who were lazy or didn't want to work in the Gannett system. You know what, if you don't like how Gannett operates f--ckin leave. Stop your whining and go. Wahhhhhhh! Be grateful you have a freakin job crybabies. Go start your own paper. Geeze
ReplyDelete12:55...Randy, is that you?
ReplyDeleteI have met her. She is sweet and I hate to think of her being treated like that. I have worked with Hammer and he is a bad person. I see these types of suits in the news and often think that they are pissed off crapy workers that are looking for a big payday but in this case this is the real deal. Shame on Gannett for promoting this thug.
ReplyDelete(Gannett managment please click on my name above!)
I worked with Randy for years and I learned a lot from him, and yes, I'm female and over 40. He has a temper, who doesn't?, but I never saw behavior that was out of line as mentioned here. Never.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, I know bad publishers/editors when I work with them, I've been around a few devils in Gannett, two to be exact. Randy is not one of them.
Knowing Randy, I think there's got to be more to this story.
To the poster named Shame: Meeting someone and working with her are two very different things. I worked with Ihne. She is no shrinking violet. She can hold her own. Besides, she left a lot of her own carnage behind with her treatment of her staff through the years. She likes a good battle of wills. And, now, either publicly or privately, she will get paid for one. Smart lady.
ReplyDeleteWell, to the poster who learned a lot from Hammer, that's good to hear, but that was also before he was publisher, correct? I think he got into a situation that confused and scared and he just started lashing out and then hiding.
ReplyDeleteI love the comment from the Mark Silverman apologist in here. The fact is -- and anyone who has been a Gannett top editor knows it to be true -- is that the company loves to bully and abuse people. It has been tolerated and encouraged for years. In fact, if a newly named Gannett publisher (or editor) doesn't know what to do, they can do worse than to start bullying and firing people because it reinforces the Gannett notion that all you need to do is "get tough" and that will solve all problems. Randy Hammer is just the latest in a long line of Gannett executives who act this way. One of the greatest Gannett bullies of all time was Jim Gatti, who was sent to Honolulu after helping to break the unions at the Detroit News. His only discernable "talent" in Hawaii was being a bully, and the descriptions of Randy Hammer and how he treated his editor sound exactly how Gatti treated his staff in Honolulu. Thuggish, bullying behavior is a core cultural value at Gannett, and Phil Currie not only tolerated it but encouraged it during his many years in news.
ReplyDeleteThis suit seems to have little merit if NC is an at will state. GCI would have settled with her before all the bad publicity if she had much of a case.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have read and experienced first hand, there is a consistent problem with Gannett managers creating hostile environments for their workers. It must be something that they teach them when they "go to Gannett training school." It's not just a problem with men harassing women either, it goes the other way, too. The bottomline is that this company still operates in the same manner as it did in the 1950s. While it does have policies on issues relating to work place hostility and harassment, it is more concerned with covering its butt rather than protecting the victim (employee). I suspect as the number of employees continues to be cut, we will hear an increasing number of complaints on this topic. Frankly, this industry breeds mean-spirited folks. I hope that editor beats Gannett. I hope they lose a lot of money to her. The only time change is made at Gannett is when it impacts money.
ReplyDelete2:42 PM
ReplyDeleteSince when did at- will employment give an employer the right to discriminate against anyone?
Never. That's when.
This has to be a bluff. Ihne must hope Gannett will fold and negotiate because if corporate decides to fight, there are plenty of depositions to be had out there of the terrible editor she was, and how her work habits infuriated many who worked for her. So Hammer yelled, but maybe incompetence is justification for anger?
ReplyDeleteDumb a#$ bosses are not limited to Pub at a newspaper. Both controllers in Lans, imagine they have 2, are a piece of work.
ReplyDeleteThey will look for the first chance to get rid of someone and take it.
I hope they get rid of both of them too.
If you do not work 60+ a week and ignore your family just like they do, you will not make it.
12:55, I didn't think it was possible for the mindset of a Gannett manager to be summed up in so few words. But with that, and little else, you are a true picture of success.
ReplyDeleteOne of Gannett's major flaws is that it continues promoting people like you and Silverman, although you lack any leadership qualities. You berate workers, and think it's an acceptable management style. But this company won't survive with people like you in charge. That's why I hope Gannett keeps you and your buddy Silverman moving up into even higher leadership positions. You've done such a fine job so far -- record circulation and advertising drops even before the overall economy was in decline. Why not?
I'm concerned for your employees because I know what they're feeling right now. On the flip side, it's enjoyable watching you and Silverman lead Gannett toward it's rightful home, Chapter 11.
So, with that, I say onward, loser! Keep driving it straight toward the cliff. The only thing I ask is for you to hurry it up!
Hammer learned his tricks from Denise Ivey, the queen diva of all intimidation and hostility towards employees. Everything about Hammer is true in this lawsuit, without a doubt.
ReplyDeletei guess if she wins she can finally pay for her gastric bypass she had shortly before she left. perhaps the mounting bills and recently terminated husband persuaded her to file this lawsuit 6.5 months after her dismissal and 2 weeks after his termination.
ReplyDeletethis will do wonders to keep the paper in asheville successful. nothing like rocking the heck outta the boat
nothing like a free buck or 65 million of them for that matter
4:01 - You could not be more right. Gannett promotes and maintains the same old tired stock of pubs and EEs around the company... herding them from out unsuspecting property to another.
ReplyDeleteThey hang out in this poor toqwn a few years. Decimate the place in morale, community good will, and staff (everyone any good quits in disgust) and then get sent along their way to the next poor town.
It is the same little gang of Gannett favorites with little skills or talent, but great butt-kissing ability for corporate.
Wouldn't it be nice to promote a publisher to a Gannett paper who LIVES in the town, and plans to be there for years to come? And has the best interests of the community and newspaper at heart?
When has Gannett EVER done this? Ever? Never?
No, this rotating crop of idiots moving from paper to paper is the model for disaster and mediocrity that Gannett has put it's stock into for years.....
and how is that stock working out for them these days, huh?
3:33 No, incompetence is a disability, so mere incompetence is not grounds for being fired. Nor is mule-headed stupidity or a general lack of social skills. You might think someone would have looked at these issues before people are promoted, but clearly you would be wrong.
ReplyDeleteHey, lots of Gannett pubs and EE were hacks, that is no secret. The quality was at K-R, NYT, Wash Po. and Times Mirror. Now those places are gone or shadows of former selves but the polyester brown sport coat guys always headed to Gannett. No secret. The Chevy of the news world, not the Saab.
ReplyDeleteI saw three Gannett papers up close - one was OK, and one was a screamer refuge. The screamers were both she-men who spewed bile from glass-enclosed offices while their whipped house husbands scurried around town doing the shopping, running errands and of course raising kids.
Gannett was never a quality option. It was a big chain -lots of choices- and full of advertising guys on the way up to published and battleax old maid women (or she-men, see above) editors clinging to their posts.
Hope this editor screws them but good, and walks away set for life.
You go, girl.
ReplyDeleteYou got a case. They'll hold off, until the last minute, to settle. Recall Andrew Carnegie: "let them sweat a bit." Enjoy their sweat.
This is the legacy of GANNETTOID-ISM. Mediocre, third-rate midgets, trying to hold onto their jobs.
Got that, mighty midgets of GANNETTOID-ISM? Everyone is LAUGHING at you! You're the captains -- of today's Titanic!
That said:
For those under 50, you've still got a lot of career time left. Suing is not a good idea -- unless you want to self-employed, the rest of your life. It puts a big "L" on your file.
Just dump Gannett losers. Take two weeks, and really think hard about what is important, what turns you on.
Then do it. Intensely.
6:31 PM -- Yes, In Brevard, Mike Coleman. Retired and still lives in the area.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to sound like I'm supporting Gannett in any way here, because this company deserves no support.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I worked for Susan Ihne in St. Cloud. She is absolutely the worst person I have ever met in 35 years in journalism.
The same things she is alleging in her lawsuit were what she did to the staff here.
She is a horrible wretch of a person.
She is a horrible wretch of a person.
ReplyDelete--
Recall the saying: "the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
A Gannettoid suing Lousy Midget Central. There is a God.
What goes around comes around Susan. Don't go looking for very many character witnesses in your favor. Being under the Ihne regime is a bad place to be.
ReplyDeleteIhne was a Gannett butt-kisser and a horrible leader, at least during her time in Asheville.
ReplyDeleteShe was capricious, often vindictive and would toss anyone under the bus to save her arse with the publisher or the Gannett brass. She did not go to bat for her people, but instead freaked out under stress, walked around the newsroom in a circular daze and was often just plain hateful. She had no filter and could not be trusted with personal information. She would inappropriately forward e-mails to the entire newsroom staff, regardless of their sensitivity.
Many long-tenured newsroom staffers quit in her short time at the C-T. She seemed oblivious to the role she played in those departures.
But she WAS terrified of Hammer.
She would often go into the ladies loo and vomit before her weekly "one-on-ones" with him. Then she'd classily tell everyone within earshot that she'd just vomited before her weekly one-on-one with him. Keep it to yourself, for God's sake!
Now, her replacement is a weak, phony guy who also does little more than kiss corporate butt and hide from the readers. He is known as a Bobblehead. I believe this is why Hammer kept him on, despite the fact the he has been there for the last 2 EEs and displayed no vision or leadership at any point.
All he ever cared about was baseball. If he could find a way to wedge a sports story onto A1, he did it, regardless of news value.
But at least Ihne had a column and tried (though not successfully; she's kind of ill-spoken.) to go out into the community.
Phil Fernandez must be bolted to his chair in his office, because he never comes out. He has not even bothered to help build bridges to the growing Hispanic community, which was one of the so-called pluses of having him in Asheville.
It hurts to see my local newspaper become so crappy. They only posted a brief on Ihne's lawsuit on the biz page today (Dec. 19) , with no link from the front page (at least as I write this...)
Shameful. If it were any other company, they'd be crawling over it like fire ants.
I no longer subscribe. It's bad enough reading it online.
6:31 -- "Wouldn't it be nice to promote a publisher to a Gannett paper who LIVES in the town, and plans to be there for years to come? And has the best interests of the community and newspaper at heart?"
ReplyDeletewhen Gannett owned the Norwich (CT)Bulletin, the Publisher was a bright, likeable, energetic local guy, Dave Whitehead, who cared deeply about the community and would live there for his entire life.
After a couple of years of Gannett publishing, he quit. Our guess was that he realized what his life would be like if he kept that job: stress, pressure from Corporate, constand demand for more-more-more growth in a declining market. He was neither an A-kisser or bobblehead. He went to work at the local hospital in an executive position. I'd bet he considers that the best move he ever made. Lesson: The locals are smart enough to quit, and connected enough to get a better job.
Speaking of baseball, a little inside baseball might bring perspective on all this. Hammer was Ivey's nuclear solution for Asheville. She was Hammer's mentor in Pensacola and she brought him to Louisville when he was passed over for pub at pnj. Ivey despised longtime publisher Virgil Smith, and wasn't shy about saying the Asheville OC was dysfunctional. When corporate saved Smith from Ivey's wrath, they also named Jeff Green his replacement without Ivey's consent. So she resented Green, and when she got the chance to dump him, she bull-rushed her boy into Asheville. Even though he had a rough ride in Louisville. And the carnage began in Asheville, leading it to where it is now.
ReplyDeleteI know little about the woman in question, but I do know about Randy Hammer. I am so tired of all these whiners complaining about how mean management is. I'm a manager at a Gannett paper and all I hear about is how 'mean' I am to people. If these folks - especially the younger generation - would do their jobs without constant complaining and the attitude of entitlement maybe their bosses wouldn't have to be 'mean.' None of these folks could have survived in the this business 20 years ago. Grow up or go be at teacher or banker or something where the pressure isn't nearly as intense. As for the woman in question, it's interesting how she had a rep of throwing others under the bus. I hope Gannett holds their ground and doesn't settle - but it will.
ReplyDelete