Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Live chat right now: Should you take a buyout?

The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., is the host, and it began just moments ago. Details, here.

From the introduction by former Detroit Free Press staff recruiter Joe Grimm:

"With buyout offers on the table for hundreds of people at The Washington Post and Gannett newsrooms, we thought this would be a good time to have a chat about how one makes that difficult decision. Our guest is Larry Olmstead, now a VP with United Way Silicon Valley. He was formerly a VP with Knight Ridder and managing editor at The Miami Herald."

7 comments:

  1. Does the buyout offer specifically stop those who accept if from working for a competitor during its term?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bono there is no non compete

      Delete
  2. Good question! That would only happen if you signed a document agreeing to such terms.

    When I took my buyout from USA Today in late 2007, I asked whether I would need to sign anything before I agreed to take one.

    In my case, I didn't have to sign anything. I was free to work for a competitor or, as it happened, start a blog about the company.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've received an offer. I was specifically told I can't free-lance for my paper (I'd assume that includes all Gannett papers) during the time I receive severance but I can free-lance for anyone else.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Is it also common to have to sign a non-disparage and non-disclosure clause as part of your buyout or severance? Knowing what a bad company the big G is, I think I know the answer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Common to whom? That doesn't apply to layoffs or EROPs.

      Delete
  5. Jim, nice job on this. You sounded great.

    ReplyDelete

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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