I was tipped off Monday night that I would be dumped after seven successful years with the company. I'm young, underpaid and have always produced. That night I slept in 10-minute bursts, with constant dreams that my wife was getting ready for work and I wasn't.
But the forewarning enabled me to be numb through the meeting with HR on Tuesday. The few who were staying seemed more broken up than those of us going. As soon as the HR lady finished wielding her axe, I hit the ground running scrounging for jobs. I remained stone-faced until I got to the car and saw a bunch of reporters' notebooks strewn in the back seat. That set me off a bit realizing my career as a reporter -- the only thing I've done for more than a decade -- was likely over.By the time I finished the half-hour drive home, I had calls and messages indicating my prospects for employment were surprisingly good. The tears of sadness became tears of joy later in the afternoon with all the calls of support I received -- especially from those who I've hammered in my stories over the years. It made me feel good that they thought I was tough but fair.
I'm sad for the newspaper industry, sad that I'll no longer be part of whatever that future includes and more sad for those left behind who have to try to carry on. I'm going to be fine -- just in a different career. On Monday I was covering a political story, 24 hours later I was looking to switch teams. What a strange week.
A look in someone's eyes. A cardboard box on an empty desk. A final conversation. Please share your layoff story in two or three paragraphs. Post replies in the comments section, below. Or e-mail via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.[Photo: Amazon]
Blogs Keep a Company Death Watch
ReplyDeleteAs the number of company failures increases, so does the number of sites charting corporate demise
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2008/tc2008123_217795.htm
http://twitter.com/themediaisdying
I wasn't lucky enough to get a tip before my lay off. But ever since they told us that the layoffs were coming, I had somehow prepared myself for the day.
ReplyDeleteIn the HR office, I felt no sadness. I simply wanted her to get over with it so I could get out of there.
Strangely, I felt more sorrow for the folks I was leaving behind. Because I know their lives will be hell. They have horrible editors, who seem cluless about this whole production.
Yes, the thought of not having a job is a downer, but I can honestly say, I felt liberated when I drove off the lot.
Can't exactly say what will happen in the future, but I know that it feels good today being out of there.
God speed to all who got their pink slips.
Peace!!
After working for 5 years at the Indy Star, it did feel liberating to leave...but also left you with a bad taste and I wasn't even laid off. Just thinking about all the hours worked, all the sweat and tears, for low pay and no respect, makes me mad all over again. I have friends that left after significantly more time and one doesn't even like to talk about her time there. It's just plain sad. Everyone should have to work for Gannett for some period of their life, it will make them appreciate EVERY job afterwards.
ReplyDeleteYou know what? I'm glad I'm out, too. It won't be easy finding work at my age, but at least I won't have to work for a bad newspaper ever again. I don't take any joy watching Gannett self-destruct, but its management practices and poor news decisions effectively destroyed American journalism. I won't be keeping up with it anymore. Time to move on.
ReplyDeleteThese stories are heartbreaking, but I'm glad there is an outlet for them.
ReplyDeleteToday I said good bye to a friend with whom i worked with for fifteen years.I have been here for twenty four years. Most of them have produced very fond memories. We gave each other a handshake and a hug , and said we'll be sure not to lose contact, but we both knew we probobly will. I have seen a lot of people come and go but this one hurt. Bad. He was a friend that I connected with. The same day I heard thru the grapevine that my job was on the cutting block within two months. I'm 50 yrs. old this year. My wife's sick. Now what. I cried like a baby. I know it could be alot worse but I don't feel any better.
ReplyDeleteTuesday was not only the day our bureau planned our holiday party, but also the day the layoffs were executed. The metro editor who always coordinated the Secret Santa exchange was let go as the rest of us were herded into an empty office, formerly inhabited by the bureau chief who got the axe back in August, for an "update."
ReplyDeleteFour hours and two additional layoffs later, the saddest group of people you've ever seen sat in the conference room while Secret Santa presents marked with the names of the now unemployed sat in the middle of the table. The worst part is, elfster.com is still sending us emails "from" the Metro Editor through their automatic system. It's just awful. There's no other way to describe it.
9:18 PM
ReplyDeleteThanks for trying to describe a scene that is too tragic for words. If ever there was a Grinch, it's Gannett.