Sunday, February 01, 2009
Sunday | Feb. 1 | Your News & Comments
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105 comments:
Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."
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Holy cow, am I the first?
ReplyDeleteHas anyone received their W-2 yet?
It's NOBODY to the rescue, Because we can't be saved :(
ReplyDeleteSo according to a post from Sat the APP ADS department thinks they are the only one's working short handed and struggling to get work out on time ..
ReplyDeleteWell here is some news for you..
Get over it !!!
Your not the only ones.....
Oh La! from the New Jersey group! Keep up the good work ADS!
ReplyDeleteJim
ReplyDeleteJust heard three papers in Pa. going to stop printing on Saturdays.
Birds are going to win today?
ReplyDeleteThese are the last two entries from Jan. 31 2009... What a SAD state of affairs!
ReplyDeleteGood evening Jim and fellow Gannett Blog readers. This is a re-write of what I unsuccessfully tried to post this morning. Basically what I wrote was:
On January 26 Asbury Park launched the "new" AdTracker system and revamped ad building to utilize InDesign CS3 instead of MultiAd. Everyone has been putting in a lot of overtime and working very hard to make this work. Especially the ADS department. ADS Techs, tech support, our immediate managers, along with the people from DPS, have all been doing "diehards". Of course only a choice few will get recognized for their "above and beyond" efforts. (Standard teacher's pet mentality).
I would like to say that the ADS department is a group of hardworking dedicated people. We are what is left from all the cutbacks and we are making the best of a bad situation.
But here is the kick in the teeth...
I for one, used to feel good about putting in the overtime when needed. Not only because of the extra $$$ in my paycheck, but also the good feeling you get when you go the extra mile and it is appreciated. Call it pride. Now it seems like our efforts are all for nothing. We were all scheduled to have our furlough weeks (which sucks), and there is rumor that there will be more furloughs and even layoffs. The difference in this wave of overtime is the sheer panic in people's faces. Stress levels are high. My co-workers and I are jumping through hoops... but how will we really be repaid for altering our personal lives, more time away from our kids/spouses, and less sleep? Worrying about being let go is taking it's toll on many of us.
I have a suggestion. This is directed to J Murphy. Instead of "thanking us" with pizza or Gannett shirts... how about a nice letter written and signed by you and upper management stating our contributions and how fortunate Gannett is to have us on their "team". Why do I want this? Well, lets face it. Joe has no say on what happens next. This is something he could do for us that will look good with our resumes if we need to use them in the near future.
So many great people have been cut. Gannet will only confirm your employment with the company when calls are made for references. Managers and bosses are not permitted to write recommedations for former employees. So if any of us gets cut due to not fault of our own, we at least have a nice CURRENT letter to show exactly what kind of employee we are.
It's just a thought... just to make a bad situation a little more tolerable. If that's even possible.
Also, it would be nice if VP of Production Jack Roth actually came into our department and talked to ANY of us to get a "real world" idea of what is happening in his own department. It seems he just does not give a shit. Why does that NOT surprise me?
1/31/2009 8:34 PM
Anonymous said...
8:34,
Yes, it would be nice to have compliments in writing.
But they also make great evidence in a wrongful dismissal suit. Management won't let such a document be produced.
1/31/2009 9:45 PM
Regarding the written comments, you have to be careful not to write too positive of a review.
ReplyDeleteAs a manager, I was told that numerous times. No 5s in the old 1-5 scoring grid. Too much praise = too much of a pay raise.
The way this company treats people is ridiculous.
When they transfer the prisoners from Gitmo, put them in the glass tower. They'll feel right at home.
GCI is getting exactly what it deserves. But it's a shame so many good people are going down in the process.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteA big question around here: Why pay the dividend?
I think the big shareholders are in cahoots iwth management to drain as much cash as possible before a bankruptcy declaration. Othewise, the only sensible move is the hoard the cash.
8:34...I feel your pain...Having done dozens of projects here are 6 points to remember.
ReplyDeleteTHE SIX STAGES OF A PROJECT
1) Enthusiasm
2) Disillusionment
3) Panic
4) Search for the Guilty
5) Punishment of the Innocent
6)Awards and Honors for the Non-Participants
I received my W2. I also give exceeds position standards reviews. Sorry your boss is an ass.
ReplyDelete8:34 PM...
ReplyDeleteAre you F'N kidding me !!!
Do you think your the only one's going thru this?
You guy's are atleast getting something for your so called HARD WORK,it might be pizza,or shirt's but it's something.
And if I recall several of you have been nominated here recentley,and throughout the year and have won the quarterly awards.(some more then once)
That's alot more then others working just as hard and if not harder then you, are getting.
What I don't get is, If ad revenue is down that means there is less ads to create so why do you have to put in OT?
Just suck it up and realize your not the only one's,And with attitude's like your's now I understand why people think the way they do about each other..
AMEN BROTHER!!! This type of me attitudes is what helped put Gannett in the trouble they are in. They preach TEAM but there is always the underlying "ME"
If you think about the 1/2/09 dividend.....it was about 91 million dollars....if you take 46,100 employees that MSN money reports, that roughly $2,000/employee that was just paid out as a dividend. There's your 1 week furlough cost!
ReplyDeleteThis company is only as good as the people who work for it...and I can see by the way you went after the poster from APP what kind of people you are. I am sooo glad I no longer work with you!
ReplyDeleteThey have several valid points and all you focus on is their "whining" Use the advice they received. If you do not already have copies of your reviews, go get them. Get records of all you awards. Make sure you note them in your resume. Don't wait until you get the pink slip, get the information now.
My W2 came in the mail Friday.
ReplyDeleteAnd to the poster who said managers aren't allowed to write references, I have not been asked not to. The former employees contact me directly and I provide the references. The HR department can probably only confirm the dates that someone worked there but if it's coming from you as an individual, what can Gannett do?
I agree, it's good to get a letter of reference before you're ushered out the door and to get copies of your annual evaluations, if they'll provide them. Don't wait too long on reference letters; who knows how long your former supervisor will have his/her job.
I got my W-2 from my former employer/newspaper yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI also received my W-2 yesterday.
ReplyDeleteWell atleast they are getting the OT to help soften the blow of the 1 week furlough
ReplyDeleteThe poster who said that people should get references ASAP after leaving because their supervisor might be gone soon, too, is right.
ReplyDeleteMy supervisor hit the door a few months after I did.
9:40 of course you were told that. I was told the same thing. Write bad reviews. Terrible company
ReplyDeleteNo W-2 received yet by this Courier-Post employee.
ReplyDeleteD’oh! Cincinnati would’ve saved valuable, section-cover newshole today had its publisher used just that one word to describe recent changes she made to deliver her profit goals…d’oh, a better newspaper. It’s likely that a majority of the 677,000 adult readers to which she now lays claim, knows that too.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for her, and Dubow, they can’t use these same “analytical skills” to inflate their financials the same way.
NJ Group here. I was a manager in the NJ group told to write bad reviews. I was instructed to do it. After waking up one morning and realizing I was the downfall of many I decided to leave. To bad other managers don't have the balls.
ReplyDeleteThe dividend is a debt payment for people who invested in GCI, which I might point out includes you as current GCI employees. If you invest your savings in a company, you expect them to live up to their debts. The dividend is stated at the time you make your investment, so it is a valid payment. Plus, consider who these investors are: largely money market funds handling 401K investments for others, and the elderly or retirees. Many of these people depend on this money. Those are the reasons to pay the dividend at the current rate.
ReplyDeleteP.S. An added thought on the dividend question: I expect my dividend payment in part as payment for lost money from the furlough.
ReplyDeleteI was a manager in the NJ Group too.( do we know one another )? I was told time and time again to write bad reviews it was "policy".
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised nobody is talking about the underfunded pension on here. You can go back through the reports and see when the company last contributed to the retirement programs.
ReplyDelete12:18 The unfunded pension question came up Friday, and was addressed. They apparently believe they over-funded the pension in the past, so don't yet have to make up with the dramatic losses as a result of the stock market collapse. Note the word yet. Eventually they will have to come up with a plan, but as I understand the rules, can stretch the make-up payments over 7 years.
ReplyDeletegot my w-2 yesterday
ReplyDelete12:08...as for the dividend as a debt payment.....when a company is in the situation that GCI is in, survival mode should, IMHO, take precedent to a divident payout. I hear what you are saying about "a debt payment", but, like my job, there are no guarantees.
ReplyDeleteGot my W-2 in the mail yesterday.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading about the New Jersey group for the last six months I can't figure out which is worst; living in New Jersey or working with these whiny cry babys!
ReplyDeletewhen i was a manager and then director at gannett, i was told to NEVER write a recommendation for anyone. only HR handles this and only confirms employment. also, i was told to NEVER give anyone a 5 on an evaluation. 4's were given out once or twice a year and usually because the person's pay was too low for their pay grade. 3.5 was HIGH HIGH praise when performance was the very best.
ReplyDeletefrom a previous career, this made no sense and was demoralizing. it appeared gannett wanted to keep pay as low as possible (well, in their defense, those golf outings are a priority). BUT, the company would turn around and pay someone if they gave notice to quit - a one time bonus or pay increase. But NEVER to acknowledge performance along the way. stupid.
Good lord, 12:47, learn to spell. You work for a freakin' newspaper. Look up the difference between then/than, too.
ReplyDeleteI thought the letter of praise from the boss for a SPECIAL project APP ADS was working on was a good idea. Why do you have such a bug up your butt about it that you have to post, and repost, and repost your hate-filled, spell-check-free posts?
To 2/01/2009 12:47 AM and 2/01/2009 10:51 AM
ReplyDeleteNo No no..... I did not mean to imply that ADS is the ONLY department or group of workers who deserve some written recognition. I was not whining. I was praising my co-workers. Since when is that a bad thing? Pizza and/or shirts are nice and appreciated but... Since when is asking for something useful a bad thing? Like I said: it would only cost a sheet of paper. We do not have inflated egos. We KNOW we could be the next ones out the door. I was just trying to put out the idea that management could help their valued employees even if we do get cut. For crying out loud, I was just trying to sent out a positive idea.
To the person who said "why the overtime?"... You are a clueless ass and if you don't know what I am talking about then shut up.
I thought the letter of praise from the boss for a SPECIAL project APP ADS was working on was a good idea. Why do you have such a bug up your butt about it that you have to post, and repost,
ReplyDeleteI never said it was a bad idea !! It's the impression of the point they are trying to make like they are the only one's that are working hard and deserve something,when in fact with everything going on every employee that's left deserves some form of reward.
Two thoughts:
ReplyDeleteFirst, 12:08 is wrong, wrong, wrong. The dividend is not given as payment for debt, and anyone who invests in a stock with the expectation that there will be a guaranteed return is too stupid to be playing with real money. If you want a guarantee, buy high-grade debt instruments, or sock your money away in a savings account.
Second, as a manager I give people the ratings they have earned. No one at Gannett has ever instructed me to rate an employees at the low end of the scale. While I concede that such instructions might be given at other properties, only a slimeball would stick a subordinate with a lower rating than was warranted. Grow a spine, do what's right, and give your employees the reviews they deserve.
12:39: That's what I got from the earnings call, too.
ReplyDeleteThe Asbury Park Press should just roll it self up and die allredy,how much longer can a comp.keep this twofaced couruped lowdown peice of crap runing bleeding its workers till they drop
ReplyDeleteFirst, I can't believe how nasty some of you are! It's really amazing. I know you didn't work at my newspaper.
ReplyDeleteI think the APP has taken over 3 other papers. No wonder they're working their butts off.
I would love to know who the managers are from the NJ group who posted on regarding reviews. Any hints? One year my review was 6 months late. My manager flat out told me that it kept getting kicked back because it was "too good". It went back and forth about 5 times. I didn't get a bad review but it certainly wasn't what I deserved.
Still waiting for my W2.
1208/09, you've been corrected countless times before about your dividend-as-loan propoganda. It is patently false!
ReplyDeleteBuying a stock is a high-risk venture, which brokers disclose. It's a gamble buyers know their odds of losing are equal to their odds of winning. They in essence become part owner of a company.
I guess you're a significant stockholder. Boo hoo for you that your shares are virtual worthless now on Wall Street. If you want the price to rise to unload it, you might have to invest some of the capital into creating a more competitive product, instead of taking it as dividend and also expecting that better product to magically appear.
If you wanted guaranteed return on your investment, you should have sold Gannett a loan instrument, instead of buying stock shares.
Speaking of loans: Jim, do you know if Gannett, as a public company, has to file public reports that include specific terms of loans? I'm wondering how many Gannett lenders have secured debt, and how many of those also have clauses promising not only interest but, as some do, a guarantee the company always makes at least a specified level of net profit?
As for pension: Do the math on the potential withdrawal of 4,000 mostly long-tenured employees leaving the company in the past year, compounded by stock losses in the pension fund. I doubt it's overfunded today. The stingy behavior in releasing it to the last round of layoffs, and the decision to do furloughs this time instead of new layoffs, may give a clue to how "over" funded Dubow and Co. think the pension fund is today. The 2008 pension report should be interesting. Of course, they pushed all the Dec. 2 layoffs to the 2009 report. What a coincidence. I'm guessing the pension fund is teetering on a tight rope now.
I continue to be puzzled and troubled by the lack of evidence that Kate Marymont is grabbing the reins and trying to steer the bozos down the hall toward acknowledging the need for real journalism.
ReplyDeletePerhaps she hasn't had enough time yet. Or maybe she's being muzzled because the cutbacks are slashing across all departments, and the big dogs don't want it to appear that the journalists are "special."
One way or another, sooner better than later, I hope that Marymont becomes a perceptible and effective presence to those of us in newsrooms/LICs across the country. That's why her position in the company exists. Or at least that's what we're told by old-timers who remember the days of John Quinn in that job.
To 12:13 - I used to wonder why my copy went straight through the desk without needing any spelling corrections or other changes and then in my review my writing was criticized. The editor did admit I was prolific. One time I lost my temper and said, "Oh, so what you're saying is, my writing is shitty but at least there's a lot of it!"
ReplyDeleteAfter that, I just signed the stupid reviews without saying anything and I didn't let them bother me.
i have my W2 on Saturday-midwest
ReplyDeleteOn the dividend, look it up for yourself. For every year over the last 40 years, GCI's dividend has increased. It was held stable last year for the first time in 39 years. GCI also famously paid a dividend through the Great Depression. It is renowned as a dividend-paying stock. If you think this little downturn is going to force them to take back the dividend with that sort of history, then think again.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful farewell story to the Hattiesburg, Mississippi presses in the Hattiesburg American today.
ReplyDeleteI got my W-2 Friday, next to last day of the month. Which has been the usual -- W-2s always come out at the last possible minute allowed by law.
ReplyDeleteOn the recommendations, I was told not to give them and to send the requests to HR. I have pretty much toed the company line on everything else, but not on this. People who are talented, skilled professionals deserve better. I'll give a good recommendation when warranted.
The evals, though ... why have a 4 or a 5 when no one gets them? I once had a 4, but I heard through the grapevine that our paper had too many 4s so all the managers had to start giving 3s. It's ridiculous.
Got my W-2 from Gannett on Saturday Jan 31st. That is an improvement on last year's arrival date of Feb 1st.
ReplyDeleteWhy isn't it possible to have those mailed out before the last possible moment?
OK. I've had it.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to tell you the dirty little secret that explains everything from Moms.Com to Kate Marymount's seeming inaction.
Ladies and gentlemen: Gannett has decided its way to success is to become (online and for at least awhile in print) the world's largest shopper.
Don't know that term? Ask some of the older people who recall it with loathing.
Thank you.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful farewell story to the Hattiesburg, Mississippi presses in the Hattiesburg American today.
2/01/2009 3:10 PM
Can you send a link...web site confusing. thx
Here's an evaluation story for you....
ReplyDeleteAbout 6 years ago my immediate supervisor told me that my evaluation didn't fly past HR because it was too good for the raise that was already budgeted for me. My supervisor was told by HR to evaluate me again and to back off the ratings. He did that and was told to evaluate me AGAIN and to back off the ratings some more. He finally got my evaluation in line with their puny raise.
Crap like that can ruin a person. lol.
I have not received my W-2 yet. I was laid off by Courier-Post last month, not that that has anything to do with it.
ReplyDeleteI don't give a Rats Ass if GCI paid a dividend during the 'Great Depession'.
ReplyDeleteClearly they were a much stronger and better managed company back then as opposed to today.
If they are acting because of past history that makes little sense.
I'll go back to my original theory that they (big shareholders) are grabbing as much cash as they can before they declare bankruptcy.
Just curious, what was the dividend yield of the stock back in the 30s when they were paying a dividend? I can't imagine it being this high.
here is Hattiesgurg link
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20090201/NEWS01/902010322&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
In regards to evaluations, as a former manager and director (and very happy I am a former) I was told that Gannett standards were higher than other companies, therefore a commendable was the equivalent of a superior at most other places. What a load of BS!
ReplyDeleteShoppers.
ReplyDeleteThat's where the true profit margins are. No editorial content = low overhead.
It's a business model that works well. Put the news content online (much cheaper) and convert all print products to shoppers.
To quote someone famous, "Get 'er done."
The review process at Gannett is one of the most morale-busting aspects of the company. My editor had just three people to review and detested the bosses, so he told us every detail of the process. His reviews were too positive and he was forced to rewrite them and downgrade us to 3s, over his strong objections. He was instructed to find ways to criticize us and pick apart our performance even if we had met and exceeded every performance goal. The reviews then went through several layers of editors and when they finally returned they bore little resemblance to what my immediate supervisor had written. It a way to deny raises, plain and simple, and everyone involved is well aware.
ReplyDelete3:42 PM . you said: Crap like that can ruin a person.
ReplyDeleteOur company should have evaluated the department head in our HR dept.
She was a no-good evil un-happy woman. She suffered more illness brought on by herself and her obvious abuse of prescription drugs than seniors in nursing care. A disgrace to any company.
So, how are the investigative journalism efforts moving forward during the furlough? Reports?
ReplyDeleteAnyone ever received a 5 or the top rating in an evaluation? How do you get the biggest raise possible if no one ever gets the highest rating?
ReplyDeleteWhat's Kate's vision?
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteDidn't you have a regular feature that reviewed good work from around the company, work you found by surveying front pages, getting highlights from a note or reviewing the day's Web sites? You should keep that up for balance.
Anon@739A: Those 3 papers dropping Saturday are NOT Gannett.
ReplyDeletehard to believe jack roth forgot about the days when he was a lowly ad artist in one of the outpost offices ...
ReplyDelete4:08 I doubt if you have work long for this company, because if you had been around for a while you would know Gannett became what it is today using GCI stocks to purchase other newspapers. The families that once ran their papers agreed to sell to Gannett in return for not only cash, but dividend-bearing stock as well because it gave them some annual income.
ReplyDeleteAbout the performance appraisals, why didn't the company keep the same performance benchmarks, honestly rate performance and change the dollars to match the budget? That sounds like a more sensible and valid plan. No wonder Gannett's expectations are so vague, and no wonder nobody really knows what's going on.
ReplyDeleteS&P may cut Gannett into junk territory
ReplyDeleteNEW YORK, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's said on Friday it may cut its ratings on Gannett Co (GCI.N) into junk territory, citing concerns about the newspaper publisher's revenue and earnings declines.
The largest U.S. newspaper chain and publisher of USA Today on Friday reported a 36 percent drop in its profit for the fourth quarter and said it plans to write down the value of its newspapers by up to $5.2 billion. For details, see [ID:nN30357637]
Declines in revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization may not moderate enough over the intermediate term for Gannett to maintain its investment grade rating, S&P said.
A downgrade into junk territory can significantly increase a company's borrowing costs.
"Our main concern is the accelerating quarterly pace of decline in Gannett's publishing segment," S&P said.
"However, we believe the company's broadcasting segment may experience revenue declines in 2009 near that of publishing, mostly due to the U.S. economic recession and the absence of Olympic and political ad revenue that benefited periods in 2008," the rating agency added. (Reporting by Karen Brettell; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Yes, got my W-2s on Saturday
ReplyDelete4:52 - I got 15 5's and 9 4's and nothing below that on my last eval (some of the 4's seemed bogus) - still got the same raise as all others - even the slackers. What was the standard? - 3 percent? Actually, I had heard one person got 1/2 percent higher than me and that person was a problem child and a cry baby! And my eval was 12 days late! I've kept all my evals, blue chip and other award write ups and am including them in with my resume when I go on interviews. I had asked two of my mgrs for reference letters and did not receive them. Don't know if they didn't have the time cause they were too busy, they forgot or were told by upper mgmt not to. I took the voluntary buyout and ran with the severence. Now job hunting with a vengence and I'm still not finding too many jobs out there and the interviews are far and few between. I'm keeping my spirits up tho, and hope to land something - anything soon!
ReplyDeleteAnd I haven't received my W-2 yet! Guess the wheels at GCI are slow to turn!
I think I averaged 3.5 to 4 every year for 20 years. One year -- I think it was in 2003 -- I got my one and only 5.
ReplyDeleteAs a manager in the NJ Group, I too, was told that 5's were not expected to be given out. My boss told us to make sure our reviews were done on time, but I always got mine late. That's a morale booster.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten 100% 3s on everything of every review. But also in every review my boss would say, well, this could be a 4 or 5, keep up the good work in this area. Whenever I say can we change it then? Nah, we'll keep it at 3 since it's signed off on, but keep it up.
ReplyDeleteI got my W-2 in Jersey. What's the issue. If there's a complaint, call the postmaster general.
ReplyDeleteI was told when I was hired in 2000, at my first Gannett paper, never to expect a 4 on an eval. Never got one. Highest I ever got was 3 1/2. I don't even know anyone who received a 4 at either site where I worked in news.
ReplyDeleteI have heard countless stories about reviews being returned in both directions: either too good or not harsh enough.
There seems to be very little rhyme or reason. It is impossible to meet constantly moving objectives.
How many papers sent people to the Superbowl?
ReplyDeleteMY NJ manager gave me 4's & 5's until around 2004 and straight out told me they weren't allowed to give those numbers for xyz reasons. Funny, though, how I recently saw another staffers review with 4's & 5's.
ReplyDelete6:44 - the issue with the W-2's is some of us would like to file our taxes ASAP so we get our much needed refund back quickly!!! The sooner you file, the sooner the return. There is no good reason for any employer to hold back the mailings to the last date - it's not their money involoved!!!
ReplyDeleteThe reviews given are total fabrications. If you ask your manager if higher levels are given out they say no. Their comment no- one gets them. If you ask the publisher the same question? His answer? There are many people in gannett and working here that receive higher grading levels. Do we need better communication between the two? or a lie detector?? test?
ReplyDeleteHas any other employees (besides me) that are classified as
ReplyDelete"Part-time 30 hrs. AND over" (in the Gannett handbook it reads (WITH FULL BENEFITS) been told that they no longer qualify for any paid holidays, paid sick-time, or paid vacations? This was a shock after 10 years of 4 weeks of paid vacations per year. But, I thankfully still have my health insur. I just can't afford to stay home sick if I use it!
(25 yr employee.)
I'm not a financial genius, but it would seem you don't merely push a button and miraculously 40,000 W2 statements go out. I have never worked at a real company where I got my W-2 before the last week in January. I guess the company could hire more accountants and get them out faster, then lay off others to pay for it. Geez
ReplyDeleteI generally got 3s.
ReplyDeleteBut it seemed as if I would just get traction in my job and then either the goals or assignment would change and I had to start all over again.
Sometimes it was because I moved to another paper. The same editors that recruited the heck out of me then would grade me harshly the first year, maybe to give them slack in the future? Put me in my place?
Overall, I hated evaluations because it was totally demoralizing. One editor apparently kept a list of every incident where I fell short of his expectations. I submitted a self evaluation noting my accomplishments, mainstream efforts, enterprise and national awards I won, goals reached and things I wanted to work on the coming year. I was blindsided ...
I don't miss that part of working for Gannett one bit.
No I asked for PT at 30 hours and waive my health bennies but they put me at 28.75 hours a week just so I wouldn't work 30 hours and perhaps need health insurance in the future. Also, I only get vacation time, NO sick time and NO personal days. Jeeesh!
ReplyDeleteIf you want to have fun with your manager do this at your next annual review:
ReplyDeleteAfter he/she gives you your 3's and you sign the paperwork, laugh real loud and say, "Ha! I would have given myself AT BEST 2's."
8:03 - maybe you're not a financial genuis - but have you ever heard of computers? How do they get payroll out to 40,000 people in two weeks time???? They already have all the info in the computer and don't need accountants to process W-2's, the programs in the computer do that!
ReplyDeleteHattiesburg now has up a video of the last run. Sad :(
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/b3utfc
Fun to read all the people writing about their raises.
ReplyDeleteI got a solid review and 3% raise in October and was axed Dec. 2.
I got all 4s and a few 3s on my December review but no raise at all. Never received a 5, even though I give myself a few 5s on my self-eval.
ReplyDeleteHey " DUMMY "
ReplyDeletein indy we were told that our then-publisher, barbara henry, had never received a 5 despite having 2 or 3 publishers' rings, so no one else could be given a 5.
ReplyDeletethe whole "merit" system was a cruel joke that tortured rank-and-file employees and mid-level supervisors alike.
two different bosses told me more than once that they had been forced to lower my ratings. quite often my evals were delayed because it took a long time to knock them down low enough to suit the big cheese.
over the years, at least two bosses suffered serious stress-related illnesses as a result of having to work 60 or more hours a week while carrying out ill-advised orders and trying to find ways to not mistreat their staffs despite orders to do so (improper pips, forced lowering of evals, reassignment of people to work they would hate as a way to make them quit).
Is it just me, or is anyone else upset about the TOTALLY STUPID careerbuilder.com commercial that was on during the Super Bowl. My 401K is in the toilet and they spent $3M on THAT!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm TOTALLY disgusted!
The Monster.Com commercial was better bt far
ReplyDeleteThese revelations about the manipulated reviews make me realize why my primary sensation about working for CN was a feeling of DREAD as I went to work every day. After a while, I just couldn't wait for the weekend to recuperate.
ReplyDeleteGannett makes performance reviews way too difficult. Why don't they just honestly rate performance in several areas, add the number up for a performance composite, look at the budget and then then assign raises based on the scores.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder OT is such a problem. Nobody really knows what anyone is doing, it seems like.
Re W-2s, some of our kids go to colleges that require the FAFSA, with filed IRS data, before Feb. 15 -- or else we risk loss of much needed scholarships and grants. One requires the FAFSA by Feb. 2 for certain grants. Good thing my daughter picked the school that needs it recorded by Feb. 15.
ReplyDeleteWe don't get the benefit of the $40,000 Craigy-poo gives to some podunk Carolina school his country club buddies' kids go to, although that school would be damn lucky if it could recruit any of my kids.
I was employed by Gannett for 20 years and 17 of them I had perfect attendance. Therefore, my manager had no choice but to give me a 5 in category. So if you want a 5 have perfect attendance. If I had it to do over again I would take every last sick day they allow you. The only thing perfect attendance got me was an early retirement. I am one of the lucky one's though, I received my pension check. I HATE GANNETT AND AM GLAD I AM NO LONGER EMPLOYED BY THE LOW LIFES.
ReplyDeleteAt my paper -- I'm not going to say which one, but it's one of the larger dailies -- all newsroom raises will be 1 percent. Doesn't matter whether you get a 2 or a 3 or a 5 or a (mythical) 5. It's 1 percent.
ReplyDeleteWhoops -- should be "a 4 or a (mythical) 5."
ReplyDeleteDuring the Friday conference, they said there would be a board of directors meeting this month. Anyone know when and where. I assume the Crystal Palace, but don't know that for sure.
ReplyDeleteAny items we would like to have on the agenda, Jim?
W2 received on Friday.
ReplyDeleteHey 11:26
ReplyDeleteI received my W2 Friday as well from USAT.
Hey 8:28 am
ReplyDeleteCount them 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, yes, 6Super Bowl rings!
You must now bow before the KINGS of RINGS.
Ah, that would be 6 rings for the STEELERS, King’s of the Rings.
9:32 p.m., you can file the FAFSA and amend it once you do your tax returns. Very common and expected. I would do it ASAP as the server apparently gets very busy.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, my psychotic ex-editor at Louisville prepared a scathing annual review after I felt I had a pretty good year. He accused me of threatening him (never happened) and blamed me for some critical mistakes he had made. I was just dumbstruck and refused to sign it. I filed a written protest with his supervisor and in effect said it was unfair and over the top. I offered documentation to back up my case. It was changed from a 2.5 to a 3. Luckily, this nut was shown the door a few months later.
ReplyDeleteI was a director and every year, the group publisher lowered my local pub's evaluation of me, even tho they guy had next-to-no idea of who I was and couldn't pick me out of a group by name.
ReplyDeleteSeveral times I was made to lower reviews on my staffers.
And I was told to keep scores low and remember to add bad stuff to be prepared "in case the employee goes bad some day and decides to sue us. We'll need good documentation to beat a suit."
It was never a performance eval, it was an ars-covering exercise.
8:17 p.m. asked if any "Part-time 30 hrs. AND over" (in the Gannett handbook it reads (WITH FULL BENEFITS) (have) been told that they no longer qualify for any paid holidays, paid sick-time, or paid vacations? This was a shock after 10 years of 4 weeks of paid vacations per year."
ReplyDeleteI work under 30 hours a week. At my site, part-timers accrue vacation hours during the previous year. So you've already earned your four weeks. (And no, I don't get any paid sick time or paid personal days. I do get paid holidays if I am scheduled to work on those days.)
Even if they just changed the rules on you, I would fight for this year's vacation time.