First it was the blue ball. Then it was the Make a Difference Day appearance. Now, it's the executive parking spaces.
Yesterday, according to a reader, a dozen or so spaces long reserved for top brass at Corporate and USA Today were returned to everyone else's use in the big parking deck at headquarters in McLean, Va.
Notably, the spaces had included one set aside for Gannett's CEO: Craig Dubow, until his retirement for health reasons Oct. 6. They were close to a garage elevator providing easy access to the Gannett Tower.
And even more notably, Dubow's successor -- Gracia Martore -- may be getting credit for this latest, more populist move. "No longer," my reader says, "will employees have to trudge past a gleaming row of Range Rovers, Audis, BMWs, Mercedes sedans. Refreshing."
Notably, the spaces had included one set aside for Gannett's CEO: Craig Dubow, until his retirement for health reasons Oct. 6. They were close to a garage elevator providing easy access to the Gannett Tower.
And even more notably, Dubow's successor -- Gracia Martore -- may be getting credit for this latest, more populist move. "No longer," my reader says, "will employees have to trudge past a gleaming row of Range Rovers, Audis, BMWs, Mercedes sedans. Refreshing."
When Dubow's retirement was disclosed, the board of directors also said it had elected one of its own members, Marjorie Magner, as chairman.
ReplyDeleteAt the time, I wrote: The board did not say what it is paying Martore or Magner in their new roles; that will likely be disclosed in a regulatory filing in the days ahead.
That was more than three weeks ago, but I still haven't seen that filing.
Reserved parking spaces has always been one of my biggest pet peeves.
ReplyDeleteWe're not there yet Gracia, but it's a good start. If she takes aways the obscene amout of money Craigy-boy is getting..... Then I'll be a fan.
Readers start checking out reserved parking spaces around the country. They are all going away. The free lunches at the CP are gone as well. Gracia is sending a message to the leadership. Subtle maybe, but change nonetheless!
ReplyDeleteOK, then give her credit where credit is due. It's more a symbolic/token gesture than anything else, but a good one that sends the right message. But money talks too: If she takes the stand that executive pay (including hers) is directly tied to revenue growth impact (as opposed to profit derived from cost/people cutting), then she's serving as a true leader.
ReplyDelete9:05 am Agreed. Then we'll know she's serious about doing the right thing and not rolling out a PR campaign. I'll believe it when the significant and long overdue changes happen.
ReplyDeleteI've said it many times and I'll say it again. Gracia is no Craig. She will hold all executives accountable for revenue growth.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the parking spaces go, the whole thing was absurd to begin with.
Its a gigantic parking garage with a million available spaces. No need for it other than ego.
Glad to see it go.
How many vice presidents have been added since she's taken the helm? Real change?
ReplyDeleteEveryone in Crystal Palace knows whose car was whose in that executive parking area, smack in front of the stairs/elevators area. I believe Martore finally became ashamed about the employees having to parade past their fancy, expensive toys.
ReplyDeleteNo served, free lunches anymore? Oh my. Did they take away their executive passes to purchase food for free in the cafeteria too? My guess is no.
ReplyDeleteOccupy Tyson's Corner is coming, time for execs to go in-cog-car-nito.
ReplyDelete9:51 am Probably right. The positive changes she's made so far look good, but don' cost anything. A PR campaign no doubt.
ReplyDeleteSome of those suits are badly in need of exercise and/or could shed some pounds, so let them walk like the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteI doubt the motivation behind this is anything so noble as trying to send a message. They did this at our site quite a while ago. We figured it was because the big shots didn't want their cars identifiable -- or vandalized -- as the layoffs and resulting anger continue.
ReplyDeleteParking spaces won't bring my job back.
ReplyDeleteThe cynic in me says she was given a list of things to do by someone in PR/Marketing (probably after several meetings and a few conference calls) because she realizes faith in management is at all time ridiculously low levels.
ReplyDeleteEliminating the reserved parking spaces? Really? Really? Folks, are all of you THAT easily satisfied?
ReplyDeleteNo mark of progress in this company will exist until it begins spending additional money on editorial staffers. Raises, rehiring, new equipment - all those things have meaning.
Dropping the reserved spaces "don't cost a thing." Therefor... it is meaningless.
Come on folks, get a backbone!
Next is a new employee recognition or incentive plan with a very, very small monetary value. Gannett has a long history of implementing programs for "regular" employees that cost more in posters and promo materials than the value of the "awards." I guess they think we're easily deceived.
ReplyDelete"Its a gigantic parking garage with a million available spaces. No need for it other than ego ..."
ReplyDeleteActually, there are many, many more spaces now in that garage than there used to be ... And GM is a big reason why.
That said, even if this is a calculated PR plan (which it is), fine. At least she's agreeing to do it. That's more than you can say for the bozo who ran this company for far too many years.
And 11:45, you need to learn how to read better. The majority of responses here are saying, "Nice gesture ... But far, far from enough ..." Most of us (whether we still work for the company or were forced to leave) agree that none of this matters if she doesn't provide real leadership with revenue growth, not cost cutting, that stems from putting out valuable products again (regardless of their platform).
This Space OCCUPIED
ReplyDeleteIt is a nice gesture but will anyone else dare to park in those spaces if they are available?
ReplyDeleteYou haters are gonna hate, but I got my coffee cup from the DIG and ain't nobody ever taking that away from me.
ReplyDeleteGestures are nice, and even coffee cups are useful. I'd feel a lot better if somebody would start leading or managing the company though. First off - why are we still supporting ShopLocal? Why is anyone printing themed sections less than 12 pages? Why are we producing and delivering monthly house catalogs for no profit in markets with no competition?
I'll take the coffee cup - but I'd like to still have a job until the coffee goes cold.
2:28: I was laid off a year after getting my DIG cup ... on the very same month I got a coveted Employee of the Year award too! It only made me feel better about the whole thing because it just confirmed that the managers making the decisions -- who had no idea what I did or looked like -- were a bunch of buffoons.
ReplyDeleteDo execs still have company paid cars? Making them buy their own cars would do more for the bottom line then getting rid of the spaces these free cars park in.
ReplyDeleteGracia Martore is no Craig Dubow. Eliminating their coveted parking spaces is small stuff but symbolic nonetheless. Give her a chance everybody and maybe you'll all be pleasantly surprised. Go for it Martore, tear down those prima dona walls and make the royal court earn their keep like the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteSmall gestures mean a lot in a corporate setting. Given the corporate culture we've seen at Gannett over the past six or so years, these initiatives, small as they may be, are certainly out of character what has become the norm. I'll give Gracia the benefit of the doubt here, and maybe, just maybe, these initiatives in the first month of her service as CEO may indicate a refreshing new attitude from the top.
ReplyDelete5:11 PM, our publisher does
ReplyDelete5:11 PM, don't think that's going away.
ReplyDeleteSo 10:14, what do you think now that you know she just bought a new Porsche, along with several of the other execs who just got a new car?
ReplyDeletePlease 10:14... give her a chance and be pleasantly surprised? If you don't work within the walls of Crystal Palace, you must be living in fantasy.
ReplyDelete