A Cheezhead poster wrote today: "The number is actually closer to 400. They have been laying/firing small numbers since August to avoid a mass layoff. There were several executives and managers laid off. Job losses were not just from sales -- but from all areas of the company. With the Tribune filing for bankruptcy, there will be more."At 400, the cuts would equal about 20% of the 13-year-old company's more than 2,000 workers. I've left a second message today with CareerBuilder, seeking comment. I've also left a second message with the city of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development; it granted CareerBuilder the tax giveaway in early October, in return for promises it would add 185 jobs.
Blogger: How it went down
Cheezhead gave what it said was an inside account of Friday's layoff:
"Apparently, certain groups were alerted via e-mail at 12:50 p.m., CT that at 1 p.m. they were to go to a conference. Those going to one room were safe, while those in the other were cut. Then, at 3:30 p.m., there was a company-wide conference call with CEO Matt Ferguson (left) who communicated the difficulty of the day."Cheezhead continues: "Most people cut were apparently from the small business units, which call on companies with less than 100 employees. However, every unit was said to be 'affected in some capacity.' Marketing was another department that may have been hit harder than most. Sources explained the firings were in large part due to the fact that 'revenue is down 5%.' One source expressed fear that if the economic decline continues, there will be more cuts."
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ReplyDeleteI just removed a comment that appeared to be a commercial advertisement. Please don't leave comments like that here.
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ReplyDeleteJim - There was nothing commercial about my comment. That was posted on Cheezhead. The fact is, there are large bloated companies losing market share and they have to fire people...and there are smaller newer companies gaining share and they are hiring people. This is a fact.
ReplyDeleteRay: Sorry about that!
ReplyDelete"Those going to one room were safe, while those in the other were cut."
ReplyDeleteWhere'd they learn that tactic? "American Idol"?!!!
Actually....they learned that from The Arizona Republic. That was the tactic they used on us a few years back.
ReplyDeleteComing from an ex-sales employee in the Enterprise account group, I recommend that anyone still working as an Account Executive at CB start looking NOW for a new career in sales. With this economy and number of competing job-sites that have much more to offer for much less (i know the MSN/Newspaper story), there is no way CB can maintain the market share, much less grow revenue. The management team is good, but not even Matt Ferguson will be able to pull this one off. CB will be 1/3 the size it is now, within 2 years.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck....
"Those going to one room were safe, while those in the other were cut."
ReplyDeleteActually, it sounds more like some folks led by a fellow named Hitler. And before I get jumped on, I'm NOT comparing Gannett to the Nazis. I'm a former history major, though, and that was the first thing that popped into my mind. One building has beds, another has the showers...
All I can say is that I could see the writing on the wall when I was working there and got out in September and landed at a great company. That environment was truly detrimental to my self-esteem. I now feel as if I have left an abusive relationship and work for a company that actually appreciates me. My advice to anyone over there is to "START BUILDING" ;)
ReplyDeleteI was very well respected even in that environment. I did very well, but they snuffed at several of my recommendations to improve culture and correct the problems they had. In the end I left knowing I would be happier with a company that was as commited to me as I was to it. To those considering employment with CB: they have a lot to offer, they are a great company, but go understanding they are proud of having over 50% turnover in their sales force. So you probably won't stay long (if you are able). The best approach is to go in setting some goals for yourself to achieve while always keeping in mind your exit strategy. Many of my coworkers while I was there came to call it "resume-builder" for this reason.
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