Few people appreciate the desperation felt by the millions of workers getting laid off by virtually every company. Large or small, business owners are shedding employees in hopes of saving their investment. And all those people are a potent force, if they get mad enough; we've tasted a bit of it on this blog.When I was a reporter at my first job, I also shot photographs. I had a certain mindset that allowed me to take photos of dead bodies without feeling a thing. I was behind the lens, so it didn't seem "real." I said to myself, "they're already dead," so they might not notice this final indignity. It was as if watching something through a pane of glass: The humanity was on one side of the pane, and the tragedy was on the other.
I have come to believe that corporate executives experience the same out-of-body experience when it comes to managing their businesses. They, their families and their lifestyles are on one side of the glass. Employees and entities owned by the corporation are on the other. They can see the anguish, but they cannot appreciate or feel it.
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.
This is a masterpiece! The point of view is stated well and makes some degree of sense.
ReplyDeleteThe problem, however, might be that they see and feel the anguish but are simply too selfish and greedy to act like human beings!
Did you write that Jim or did Shirley Ragsdale ? 9and what is the context - is this a comment on her blog ?) also, why the Argus Leader front page with this post ?
ReplyDeleteI've tweaked the introduction, 7:56 pm: Shirley wrote this; the Argus Leader was one of the papers where she worked during her career.
ReplyDeleteI think Gannett's executives, in order to attain the lofty heights that they have, have in no small way compromised their integrity. "...too selfish and greedy" ??? They are so far gone, so far removed from the common man and woman, thinking like "human beings" is ananthema to the predators they have become.
ReplyDeleteWhen you see a co-worker laid off from your office, don't ignore them. They need you more than ever now. Call them and support them. Don't treat them like they're dead. That's how corporate treated them, and they don't need it twice.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid my upbringing in the Catholic Church, and reading of St. Augustine, does not allow me to believe there is a good side and a bad side to execs. There is only one side. They see the anguish, and they know what is going on. The trouble is, they sold their souls long ago, and today live with the consquences of those bad decisions. They once could have stood up and opposed what Gannett was doing when there was no economic excuse. Now the economy is sour, there is no room for disagreement and they have to accept what is happening. I know one of them who appears actually to enjoy this role.
ReplyDeleteThe amazing thing is that Gannett continues to believe it is delivering a good news product. In our market, the daily paper is down to 2 thin sections and people on the street are saying how they don't plan to renew their subscriptions. The best hope, in many "Gannett-served" communities, is bankruptcy, allowing local investors to take back their local newspapers.
ReplyDeleteAmen, 9:13 pm: Your co-workers are the victim of a layoff. But it's not a communicable disease: You won't "catch" a layoff by talking to them.
ReplyDeleteWhen you see a co-worker laid off from your office, don't ignore them. They need you more than ever now. Call them and support them. Don't treat them like they're dead. That's how corporate treated them, and they don't need it twice.
ReplyDelete2/08/2009 9:13 PM
No one who is still employed by the "firm" can risk having dealings with the "outcasts". They feel the "great eye" upon them if they do, and like Frodo and the Ring, they can't be detected for risk of losing their own livelyhood.
There is no loyalty between co-workers anymore. It is ever man woman and child for themseves.
Sauron (Gannett Company Inc.) has cast his army and the world of Men (worker bees)is doomed.
Jim is our Lord Aragorn, but there is no Frodo to carry the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom and destroy Sauron's reign.
This applies to more than just the big wigs here. The execs at my newspaper are so oblivious to what's going on they can't see that the copy desk is leaving one by one, due to professional reasons because the atmosphere has become so toxic and full of micro-managing. What happened to sticking together and supporting each other? Oh wait...I'm sure they're not afraid for their jobs-nor can they see the problems being detached causes.
ReplyDeleteSome people are more empathetic than other people. Empathy is a great thing in management and in the news business. I found a total lack of empathy in my Gannett management and in the overall corporate culture.
ReplyDeleteDidn't you do this "tell your layoff story" back last year when all the turmoil was still fresh? I am not sure what good it does for people to keep going over and over these experiences (and I speak as someone who was laid off). While I do still feel pain and anger, I am trying to move on and get through the final stages of anguish over my layoff.
ReplyDelete