Monday, April 23, 2012

Corporate releases results of employee survey

[Updated at 2:34 p.m. ET April 24 with attachment.]

CEO Gracia Martore has sent the following to employees; I'm posting from my iPhone because my Mac is temporarily kaput.

Dear colleagues,

I want to thank you for your participation and thoughtful input into the survey we launched in March concerning Gannett's transformation strategy and initiatives. We had  nearly 5,000 respondents complete the survey.  Your input is essential as we move forward in driving our company's growth agenda, so I greatly appreciate the time that many of you took to provide us with your thoughts.

Attached is a short 8-page summary document of the summary findings that the external survey administrator compiled from all the responses.  The results indicate a strong recognition throughout the company of the need for change and support for Gannett's transformation. It was encouraging to see your confidence in management's ability to lead and provide you with support, and the strong belief in yourselves and your own abilities moving forward. Yet, you all recognize that there is still a long road ahead, as was indicated by the concerns you raised around workloads, Gannett's ability to sustain the investments and effort required to successfully execute our strategy.

We appreciate your candid feedback on the issues you are facing, and we will use the input from these surveys to address these specific issues. But as you know, change doesn't happen overnight. It will require sustained commitment and support from all of us through the coming months.

As we move forward and continue to make progress on our initiatives, expect to see more communication and dialogue including:

1. Quarterly updates on the strategic initiatives, with progress metrics (overall and by initiative)
2. Periodic informal, in-person events with different leaders in smaller group settings
3. Celebration of successes through recognition of individuals and teams and awards for outstanding contributions

These are only a few of the actions we are taking to address the issues you raised. We hope you found the Townhall webcast last week informative, especially the specific metrics on initiatives that are further along in their execution.

We will continue to gather your perspectives on the strategy and initiatives with periodic surveys - the next one is scheduled for early June - and look forward to your continued participation and input.

If you have any questions or reactions to the survey results that you would like to share, please contact me or Saira Stahl at transformation@gannett.com.

Best regards,

Gracia

29 comments:

  1. Based on Gannett's employee count of 31,000, about 1 in 6 workers took this survey. That's not a bad response rate.

    However, just as Gannett Blog readers aren't necessarily representative of that workforce, neither are these 5,000 survey respondents.

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  2. I wish she'd stop using the words "execute" and "execution." It gives me the creeps.

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    Replies
    1. I have NO confidence in this leadership team's ability. Except for cutting workers, padding the ranks of upper management an causings massive upheaval and angst among 90% of the workforce.

      Delete
  3. what is the point of posting this transcript with no analysis? Every employee already received the same e-mail. This isn't news.

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  4. I participated in the survey and then got laid off. Coincidence?

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  5. Very sorry to hear that 4:26. But 4:13 figures that the only people who come to this blog are employees who "already received the same e-mail." So obviously 4:13 doesn't think you matter anyway.

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  6. My favorite line:

    "It was encouraging to see your confidence in management's ability to lead and provide you with support...."

    The emperor truly has no clothes.

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    Replies
    1. Complete b.s. this shark inspires thusly: when you see her, you run as fast as you can.

      Delete
  7. 4:13, my email isn't working again today. And what about the people who don't work Mondays and have no desire to access email from home?

    Maybe lighten up a little.

    I would like to see the short eight-page summary, however.

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  8. Any executive who rules by fear cannot inspire or truly lead.

    Develop a heart and concious and people will walk through hot coals barefoot for you, Gracia.

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  9. Makes sense, I can't afford shoes anymore so I walk barefoot anyway.

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  10. Jim probably couldn't upload the attachment since he is using his phone...Give the man a break, he is doing an excellent job for little compensation.

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  11. Amount of times she mentioned DealChicken - 0

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  12. More lies.

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  13. Chief Bullshit Officer to be hired shortly.

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  14. best regards my ass.

    Is this what they say after you reapply for your job in Sports?

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  15. So let's say a good half of the participants in this survey are corporate toadies. Do you really think the results of this survey weren't skewed?

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  16. can we start with more information about the Sports Media Group? Like where $300 million in annual revenue will come from?

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  17. Guess they didn't tally my response. The numbers I used were all negatives.

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  18. They know who you are, 7:50. Expect to be the focus of one of Gracia's informal chats. Soon.

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  19. I agree that execute has no place in work vocabulary. Transformation and nimble are distasteful enough. Seems that execute popped in in corporate speak when we went to war, didn't it?

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  20. Just another ruse to show how little this management group cares. what's next? employee feedback focus groups? What a frigging sham.

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  21. As usual, a complete line of corporate gobbledygook and bullshit! What else should we expect.

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  22. GM stands for a lot of things.
    Including Gannett Mismanagement.

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. We need more ideation,

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  25. Periodic, informal in person events.
    Can't wait for those!

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  26. Chief BS Officer is so appropriate. This is hogwash. And "celebration of successes" through recognition of individuals and temas and awards for outstanding contributions???? Please, Gracia, you don't give a damn about your employees or the people you axed in the last four years.

    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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