Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday | Nov. 30 | Got news, or a question?
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185 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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I would not think there's such a thing as professional spammers -- except, I helped cover the Hewlett-Packard boardroom spying scandal in 2006, when I was a reporter at USA Today.
ReplyDeleteH-P's chairwoman, Pattie Dunn, suspected one of her fellow board members was leaking news to the media. She oversaw an investigation that ultimately went awry -- sending e-mail that contained a secret tracking code meant to catch the leaker. It was the first time I'd ever heard of an American company engaging in cyberwarfare.
Dunn and several other executives came close to getting prison time.
Damnit Jim, I posted something about that about 15 min before you did and no ref to my posting? Maybe you didnt see it. It was on the Saturday Real time.
ReplyDeleteWhen Thomson owned us, our circ was 2% higher, our ad sales were $8M higher, and our profit margin was 5% better.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Big G.
We think eight truck drivers going
ReplyDeleteto get cut in Cherry Hill N.J. Al
union jobs. No buyouts lay offs.?
Of the five new job posts in Gannett's publishing division, two of them boast onsite fitness centers as a perk!
ReplyDeleteLook at all those jobs posted this month. This hardly gives the appearance of a company that's about to kick thousands of employees to the curb.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal has extended its deadline for bids in the hope Gannett makes an offer.
ReplyDeleteSo that's where the money from the nationwide personnel cuts might go -- to buy another paper.
Some of these APP rumors sound like they are being started by some little freehold school girl..
ReplyDeleteI'm really surprised that so many people on this site are reporters and journalists but have shown no curiosity about their employer until their employment was threatened. I'm also surprised that so few were aware of the Cost and Stats report. I had bosses that openly shared those numbers whenever I showed any curiosity and asked how the company was doing.
ReplyDeleteThe question was raised as to where the information came from and how did it get out of a building. The C&S reports are usually distributed to the department heads. Many Directors and VP were laid off a few months ago. I can guess that one of them was cleaning out their home office and found the old C&S report. Rather than throw it in the trash, they chose to share the information. Reduce. Re-use. Recycle.
Gannett and USA Today made a big mistake when they started announcing layoffs. Here's why:
ReplyDeleteRight or wrong, people tend to turn a blind eye to workplace injustices when they are stable in their employment. Take away that stability, and folks start to ask questions and see all sorts of red flags about the way in which a company is operating. Journalistic curiosity kicks in. If there is corruption, it begins to become more apparent.
Gannett operates on the edge. Always has. We know all about the overtime injustices. We scratch our heads when our pensions are frozen. It fudge numbers. It hires some people for all the wrong reasons.
Now we face layoffs but learn that many papers, including USA Today are making a fair amount of money even in this bad economy. And all of a sudden, Jim's blog is under attack by spammers. Hmmmm?
The people at the top miscalculated the anger over these layoffs. They also underestimated the journalistic instincts of many of those who have been or are about to be cut. We smell something fishy, and the stink is getting worse by the day. We are no longer buying into this excuse that the economy is behind these layoffs. Many of us are beginning to dedicate ourselves to finding out what the real reasons are for the loss of Gannett jobs. Many of us will have a lot of time to dig into it since we are about to become unemployed.
Yes, Gannett's greed and lack of vision is about to turn lose a whole lot of people who will be joining efforts like this blog to get to the bottom of what is really going on at Gannett.
Do you empty suits still think it was a good idea to layoff innocent people?
And to Ken Paulson, editor of USA Today, you lied to us or are in the dark yourself. It's time for you to go. You lost all credibility in the newsroom.
If Gannett is hiring new (presumably younger and cheaper) employees in the publishing division at the same time they are forcing the departure of older, somewhat better-paid workers, isn't there some sort of age-discrimination pattern emerging that might be fodder for one or more lawsuits?
ReplyDeleteIt would be very timely and illuminating for someone to send Jim the nine-month financial report for 2008...
ReplyDeleteIf they want to save some money,maybe they need to start looking into the "FREE" Time being paid for at a large Jersey PAPer
ReplyDelete10:56, I am one who asked about profit, particularly in reference to my section. I was told it was not making a profit -- even though I knew that the ad revenue it produced more than covered the cost of my salary and benefits, and the cost of my freelancers. I was the only full-time employee whose sole responsibility was that section. Even if you took a percentage of the salaries of the two employees who helped, we were still in the black on my section by 6-figure amounts.
ReplyDeleteYour boss may have shared it with you, and that's great. A lot of them are just plain liars, because they know telling the truth will generate a lot of hard questions they can't -- or don't want to -- answer.
USA Today specifically targeted older workers with the buyouts last year. But since those were voluntary buyouts, it's pretty hard to prove any age discrimination laws were broken. Yet, we're not idiots. We know what those buyouts were about. They were about hiring young web site staffers. And let's not even pretend those people contribute to the paper in the least. I have to laugh whenever I hear we're merged.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if the bulk of people involuntarily laid off this week are over 40 years old, I think you will see grounds for a law suit. I think what Ken Paulson of USA Today said about the only criteria for these layoffs will be determined by the MEs identifying jobs that are no longer deemed critical is a bunch of bull. They are going after print jobs. And they are going after folks who are paid above the average salary.
It's almost certain that law suits will be filed. People won't have much to lose professionally by legally go after Gannett.
It's all quite tragic since there really aren't many newspaper jobs left that these people can go to. That's what makes these layoffs so tough. It's not just the end of a job, it's most likely the end of a career.
To the poster who commented that under the old Thomson Newspapers ownership, profits and circulation were better ....
ReplyDeleteI can tell you there was a reason for this:
As much as people complained about Thomson at the time, the reality was that all Thomson cared about was making a profit, period.
They did NOT worry about any "News 2000", or any other "flavor of the month" editorial initiatives. They did NOT micro-manage any of their papers.
Their attitudes was VERY hands off the local properties AS LONG as they made money and followed the single Thomson mandate - BE LOCAL. And be bold with your front page.
I was in the Wisconsin group of papers, and I can tell you that we LOVED those British Thomson consultants coming around to the papers - because all they did was give "big headline" pep talks and get drunk every night. They loved to party! Gawd! After Gannett took over how we missed the fun-loving Thomson consultants!
As I said, all Thomson cared about was the bottom line - how the papers got there was their own decision. I know, I saw how hands-off they were. The local papers were encouraged to be autonomous, feisty, fun, and NO COOKIE CUTTER styles - for the most part!
So when Gannett bought all those papers, it was a BIG change! We were being micro-managed on every little thing. The papers stopped being local-champions and became champions of whatever "media cause" Currie was pushing that year.
I remember all the top editors of these former Thomson papers were hearded to Virginia for their first "big meeting" with corporate, and it was a sad day for these top editors when they saw what Gannett was really all about - it was about aggreeing with them, nodding yes to everything, and above all, smile and shut up.
The only editor they liked from our Wiscosin group was the youngest female editor who the male Gannett executive thought was "hot" and ignored everyone else.
Within a few years, all the best of these editors quit, leaving only the idiots and Gannett's own hand-picked toadies to run the papers! That remains to this day.
So THAT is why, surprisingly, times were better under the old Thomson reigns.
Anyone else out there want to give their views on this???
I'll give a version, 12:15. Thompson took the money and ran! Things were pretty good back then. After all, we survived the dot com bubble and were riding high on post 9/11 hysteria. Why wouldn't circ and advertising be up.
ReplyDeleteYou can bet the Thompson people would be doing the same thing right now. They just laid of their entire staff a few years earlier and Gannett hired them all.
This blog has lost its traction and now a sleeper. Jim I am sorry to see your audience has moved on.
ReplyDeleteDo you think we will learn of the Guam layoffs before other sites because it will be Monday in Guam well before other places?
ReplyDeleteIt will also be Tuesday there first, and Wednesday
12:11 PM
ReplyDeleteI think you're correct about legal action based on age discrimination. I think this generation will stand up for what's right---finally. In the end, doing what's right today will benefit the very workers who seem to be clamouring to get rid of "the old farts." The 20-somethings might get to see a truly diverse workforce because of the actions we "mature" workers take today.
I was just on a call and I heard they moved all the layoffs to tomorrow!!!
ReplyDeleteI was also told from my boss that I would be one of them. They are ruthless.
I am sad, but relieved. I worked hard and I hope I contributed in some way.
I hope I will find a job soon too, but I am not worried just yet. I think I will enjoy the holiday's. Thank you all for your support at work and on this blog.
I told my manager that I refuse to do any of the firings and said he should do them without me.
God bless.
The workday in Guam begins in 2 hours so we should know soon whether layoffs are Monday if Guam is any indication.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean you were "on a call"? Are managers calling employees at home to tell them they're being let go?
ReplyDelete2:25 - What do you mean tomorrow?!? Are you serious?!? As in this Monday, Dec 1st??? What happened to Dec 3rd and the wearing of black on Dec 2nd? Should it be black Monday now?
ReplyDelete2:25 - do you mind saying what property you are from? and for the individual who said this blog has lost its traction - just go away and continue taking the drugs you are obviously on.
ReplyDeleteA publisher of a newspaper not owned by Gannett said this is tragic because Gannett is getting rid of the "best in their field" and will not be able to replace them. This is the end of the industry and Gannett orchestrated it. They stopped valuing the printed product, we find pallets of sections hidden in the building never distributed and then eventually recycled. Gannett did this to force advertisers into using digital media.
ReplyDeleteTerminating someone over the phone shows a real lack of class and further exemplifies what’s wrong with Gannett…its lack of character. How pitiful.
ReplyDeleteMy decision to bolt Gannett’s senior leadership ranks two years ago is confirmed nearly every time I visit this blog. Thanks Jim and good luck to you, 2:25 pm and everyone else who will be leaving. In the end, you’ll be happier.
Jim - where are you? can you confirm?
ReplyDelete2:25 - what site are you from - is this a definate?
Anyone else out there get "the call"?
Are we wearing black tomorrow?
I believe the sites have the option to do the layoffs on the days that best suit them.
ReplyDeleteWe have group H.R. and there's no way all could be done on Wednesday, so I would expect that some of our sites will see the angel of death roll up in his hearse to start the bloodbath on Monday.
Guam doesn't have internet access the first three days of the week. Something to do with proxy servers and the international date line.
ReplyDeleteThey only have electricity 24/7 because the U.S. Senate created a special treaty provision two years ago.
@2:25 - This is nonsense. I know for a fact that announcements will be delayed until the week of 10/8. There were some legal review issues that will delay them.
ReplyDeleteAnd what paper did you work for ? If we may ask ??
ReplyDelete12:15, The transition from Thomson to Gannett is Wisconsin was a big problem, but not for the reasons you list.
ReplyDeleteThe lax standards, bad journalism and unprofessionalism throughout the Thomson people was stunning, and its hard to believe so many of the Thomson hires are still hanging on.
Thomson's hands off approach meant no one ever took the steps necessary to clean out the dead weight, and now Gannett is forced to do it. Too bad it didn't happen when times weren't so tough.
At least most of the Thomson hires are gone from most departments and the damage has been contained.
I just feel bad for the newsrooms at the two union shops in Wisconsin. Here's hoping Gannett has the guts to get rid of the poor performers. The only newsroom people we can work with at those spots are the ones who came from other Gannett spots or were hired fresh. That is the future and I hope they aren't cut.
And fyi, I was not a Thomson or Gannett person when I was hired. It didnt take very long to figure out which company made better hires though.
This Web site has the date of the Gannett layoffs, so this should settle any questions about that:
ReplyDeletehttp://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_date_of_the_Gannett_layoff's_in_December
I heard NJ papers are starting some of their calls with managers tonight and will layoff tomorrow through Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteThere was a call of fairly senior people so, the person who just announced hegshe was being let go, must be fairly senior.
I would expect that wearing of black should be considered all week long as they are torturing managers right now by calling them and giving them the list to work from.
This is a sad situation.
I have a call tonight at 6p PST.
2:25 PM
ReplyDeleteIf you won't say which paper, can you just get the profit margin where you work!
We thought we were being saved by real newspaper people when Gannett bought the Thomson papers here. Green Bay and Wausau had been Gannett forever, and we all read The Chain Gang - we thought we knew what we were getting.
ReplyDeleteThe Thomson family never seemed very interested in the newspapers, and the publishers they had hired were weak at best. (At one point, we were told to write the reason for a budget variance on the natural gas bill.... our admin carved out a masterpiece of bureaucratic claptrap to explain a $27 over budget item - by essentially saying, hey, it was cold!)
In Wisconsin, though, we had finessed what had been started in the Ohio group papers with Thomson. We were cross selling, working with neighboring papers, consolidating functions, sharing content. One group president led the discussion and planning functions, and each individual paper was responsible for their numbers, and directors were responsible for the group.
When Gannett came in, all of that cooperation disappeared. It took years before we got back into a group mindset, years of opportunities lost.
I don't work at one of the units.
ReplyDelete2:25 pm
ReplyDeleteWhat state are you from? Just curious.
3:10
ReplyDeletegiving out info with no hint of who/what/where/when/why
about the info - that's low!
Will someone PLEASE confirm that the lay offs are TOMMORROW! I understand that they can do whatever they want at each site - but itn's that a little unprofessional? Oh - I'm sorry it's Gannett we're taking about! Come on Guam! 3:10 whose you're source and do you really think they'd delay it ANOTHER week?!?
ReplyDelete2:25 - if what you're saying is true - sorry - but at least it's over for you and you get to sleep a little better tonight and sleep in on a MONDAY. Anyone else heard anything or gotten any calls?
3:12 - please just go back to placing your nose as deep up the gannett ass as possible - you are obviously good at it
ReplyDeleteJim, where did the videos go?
ReplyDelete4:05, You know how to tell one of the mediocre Thomson employees? Everyone who does well is an ass-kisser, and the reason the ones who don't do well is because there is some vast corporate conspiracy holding them back.
ReplyDeleteWhen did a Gannett initiative acutally ever hold you back? No matter how dumb some were, and some definitely were, they never stopped good reporters from doing good work.
All they did was give crap reporters something to complain about it. If it wasn't that, it would have been something else.
Sick of Gannett ass kissers? Go work somewhere else. I'm certain you won't be missed.
I feel bad for your coworkers and managers.
Jim, please turn on real time comments again. We need to see what is happening without the time delay and filter. I think a lot of people may not be commenting because they feel like they can't get a timely response. There's too much at stake not to have live information.
ReplyDelete4:32 pm: The spammer is still out there; heck, you could be him.
ReplyDelete3:33
ReplyDeleteHUH???
are you psychic perhaps?
For those of you being laid off, I'm so sorry.
ReplyDeleteHey. Please remember to ask for that list of all the layoffs, by job title and age. That's, if you are age 40 and older.
Please get the entire company list, the list for all layoffs this round across Gannett. (Think one company---centralized HR decisions).
Does anyone know if the severance is paid at once, and if so in tax year 2008 or throughout the severance period? Do insurance benefits continue through the severance period, as they do for buyouts?
ReplyDeleteJim, I use blogger and IMHO it's easy enough to try taking off the moderation and see if the spammer comes back. I agree with you that the effort was labor-intensive for the spammer, who actually boosted your traffic to help you more than hurt you. I doubt he/she will be back, or if so back for long, and if you see it starting it just takes a moment to re-enable moderation mode, right? You may be spending more time moderating than you would deleting the spam if he/she returns.
Are these calls people are getting tonight calls informing you that you've been laid off, or are they calls with managers to plan how it's going to be done? im confused.
ReplyDeleteYou will receive your severance pay in the mail on your regular pay days for the length of your severance weeks.
ReplyDeleteGannett is well aware of age discrimination laws, so the nonsense here about the over-40 thing is just that -- nonsense.
ReplyDeleteAt USAT, I'm fairly sure the *majority* of the newsroom staff is over 40, so *of course* some of them will be targeted.
Buyouts really are designed to reduce senior staff -- with senior staff salaries -- and that's why they're voluntary and have restrictions placed on them (I think at USAT the last time, to be bought out, you had to be over 50 with 10 or more years of experience and not working for dot-com or the copy desk, but someone can correct me on that).
The typical way to get around any age discrimination claims in layoffs is to 1)Eliminate the position (not just the person) of people being laid off and NOT re-fill it, and/or 2)Just lay off by last-in, first-out rules.
Twenty staff scattered across four sections of USAT really isn't much of a cut and should be easily to implement legally...and don't forget that some people will leave voluntarily, further cutting numbers. You can make all the noise you want here but I suspect the 'age discrimination suit' claims here are going nowhere.
Without real time comments on it looks like you are filtering dissenting opinions.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else getting "The CALL"?
ReplyDeleteI was laid off by phone and they made me give back my Blackberry, which is my phone. Now I have no job and no phone. Of course, they are giving me one year of severance, plus health care for two years, so I can't complain.
ReplyDeletethey laid me off by pony express and took my pony. Now I have no job and no pony.
ReplyDeleteLaying off people by phone? That's crazy -- like breaking up with someone by Post-It note. I suppose they do it to reduce ugly scenes.
ReplyDeleteBut dammit, if you're laying someone off, you should at least have to look them in the face and tell them person to person.
5:23 PM
ReplyDeleteI guess time will tell, won't it?
Don't forget to ask for the list of everyone laid off, by position and age.
Pony express! funny stuff.
ReplyDeleteLike Gannett is going to give you the list of everyone laid off -- just don't forget to ask ! Are you serious?
ReplyDeleteI didn't hear of anyone being laid off by phone the last time we had lay-offs. Everyone was told in person, if memory serves.
ReplyDeletei would say that the percentage of comments that represent something true on this blog (true being defined as either a truthful statement or an accurate factual comment) are less than 30%. if you actually believe what is being said you have a pretty low tolerance for what you consider to be the truth.
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteOne thing I don't see a lot of on your blog: posts about the quality of journalism after the lay-offs. Is the journalism being impacted? If so, how? Are veteran reporters being lost? Bureaus being closed? What can readers expect to go without?
If you don't include posts about that, it may leave the impression that laying off 10 percent of the staff doesn't have much of an impact on the quality of the papers.
I was just laid off as a manager, but expected to come in tomorrow and do the dirty work of laying off 5 of my staff members.
ReplyDeleteBtw, my manager told me that we can negotiate the package, so DO NOT just take what they give you!!!!
Also, if you get your lawyer involved, they will pay you out.
I am on plan to do my lay offs tomorrow at 10:30am EST. Wish me luck!
11/30/2008 5:50 PM
ReplyDeleteconsidering that about 80% of Jim's readers are from the news side - Does it suprise you that only 30% are accurate?
5:53
ReplyDeletewhere are you from?
come on, tell - what can they do?
fire you??
no
ReplyDeleteI don't get it - you were laid off as a manager tonight, but you are "on plan" to lay off 5 of your co-workers tomorrow ? This sounds like a scene from The Office.
ReplyDeleteonce again - do you really believe any of this?
ReplyDeletethis forum is all anonymous - anyone can say whatever they want and some fool will believe it.
ReplyDeletekind of like the Washington Post's political reporting !
ReplyDelete5:57
ReplyDeleteNo what? you won't tell or they can't fire you or WHAT???
5:53 is right. You CAN negotiate the terms of your lay-off. I insisted on keeping my red Swingline stapler, and they let me.
ReplyDelete5:53 -
ReplyDeleteso THAT's where it went!
I should have realized it was you...
definitely bring in your attorney - that will make an interesting day for everyone. who's this, oh, just my attorney for when i get laid off.
ReplyDeleteYes Virginia ... there will be layoffs.
ReplyDeletebased on the number of comments coming since comments were opened up, i think it's safe to assume that a lot of comments were deleted in the last couple of days. if your comment was not posted, you should post it now.
ReplyDelete5:53 - Everyone so far is right - if you're already laid off tell us at least from where. Again, they can't do anything to you. BUT - you'd be preparing alot of other people for what they're in store for tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteIf you have shared HRs and your paper doesn't have HR people, do the HR people from another paper go on the road to do the lay-offs ? If you were the HR professional, that would be a grim road trip, I would think.
ReplyDeleteIf 5:53 lays off his colleagues tomorrow, they will still have jobs because no one can be laid off from a company by someone who no longer works for the company.
ReplyDeleteBut, if this is true, there will be an HR person accompanying 5:53 who will technically do the laying off.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't we technically work for Gannett until our severance pay is done?
you will be on pay continuation but that won't confer any ability to actually do anything in the companies name.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the script ? "OK, thanks for coming in. We're making a few changes ... "
ReplyDeleteI wish someone would share that.
6:17 pm: Actually, I think I only deleted a half-dozen or so comments in the past 24 hours, before they published. One was a duplicate. A couple were, I think, from a spammer. I don't recall why I deleted the other ones. Long-time readers know that I am very, very reluctant to delete comments.
ReplyDelete6:29 -
ReplyDeleteif there is to be an HR person accompanying the her/him who got canned, why does the her/him have to be part of the joy ride?
this is totally asinine!
The layoffs are coming from newsrooms. They've analyzed staffing and have come up with a "Pages per newsroom staff" metric and decided that no news room should bave more staff than the total number of non-ad pages in an average daily paper.
ReplyDeletelol
what's asinine is thinking that a manager would not be part of the separation meeting. of course the manager should be there. the employee worked for them and should hear the news from that person.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say that anyone who uses phrases like "pay continuation" must be an HR person.. and that reminded me of a serious point:
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't Gannett pay someone to post official information on the blog? It makes a lot of sense - it would defuse rumors and clear up a lot of questions employees have.
What are managers told to say during the lay-offs, for one thing? I would like to know the answer to that from someone who actually knows.
BUT S/HE'S NOT HER/HIS MANAGER ANYMORE!
ReplyDeletetalk about an idiotic situation -
"oh, hi, you're fired, but it's ok! I am too!"
Seriously, that would make a great Office episode !
ReplyDeleteRemember, 6:39 pm: The plan for this layoff has always envisioned some employees being told their layoff won't take effect for days or weeks after they receive notice.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, some managers may be told they're losing their jobs -- but need to stick around to lay off subordinates before they, too, walk out the door. Sounds strange, I know.
6:35 -
ReplyDeleteyou think we don't see through your little "lol" - this is Craig, isn't it!!
oh, come on, admit it! we know it's you...
5:53
ReplyDelete11-21-09 Asheville Citizen-Times Publisher Randy Hammer said in a meeting with all production workers we are consolidating our production departments with our sister Gannett paper, The Greenville News, 63 miles away, in South Carolina. 60 jobs were eliminated in Asheville.
Don't Take What They Give You!!
With hindsight I wish now I had stood up for everyone affected that day and asked Mr. Hammer why everyone that had been previously laid off that it was effective immediately. In some cases, HR was there at 9:00 am to inform them that their position had been eliminated and they were packed up and gone before lunchtime. Why were the Production jobs not handled the same way? Why? Could it be that they needed all of us to produce the biggest Thanksgiving paper ACT has ever produced? I should have said, “You expect us to bust our asses to get you through the heaviest work load of the year and then show us the door.” We all should have said, “HELL NO, let Greenville do it.” you’re going to screw us, no we are going to screw you and we should have gotten up and walked out. But Gannett had already thought that out. As outlined in our Severance Packages “This severance is contingent upon your working through 01-04-09 with perfect attendance, except in the case of sick time that is supported by a Doctor’s note.“ How Clever. Why did no one speak up that day?
All the workers at ACT just got screwed. Why did we take it? Why? Because we all have families to support and couldn't bear the thought of waking up on Christmas morning to see the kids faces when they found out Santa didn't come this year.
LAyoffs have been moved to Monday. Beware if you get called into the bosses office in the am. They want to not have to pay you for this week.
ReplyDelete6:48
ReplyDeleteand you know this how?
I have done layoffs (elsewhere, not Gannett) and I can tell you what I was told to say..basically, it was something like this:
ReplyDelete"Because of economic conditions that have affected the company, your job is being eliminated. This decision is final and it is not negotiable. You are eligible for (fill in the blank here) weeks of pay as part of your severance. Your employment will end immediately. Joe Blow from HR is here to answer any questions you might have."
As a manager, you're told to NEVER drift from the script and leave most answers of questions to HR. You're taught how to deal with angry employees. You're taught to reinforce the fact that the decision is final and not negotiable. You're taught to not be emotional.
The HR people wanted me to just direct my staff into a room with them so they could perform the execution, but I demanded as a manager to be the one to break the bad news to my staff. The company agreed, but many companies flat-out don't want managers involved. There are too many legal dangers and by reducing the number of people involved in the layoff process, you reduce those dangers (and you also help reinforce the stereotype of HR people as mindless, soul-less drones).
Laying off people was the hardest thing I ever had to do as a manager. When I tried to drive home that night, I had to pull over so I could cry for a while...and then the next day, when I returned to an empty work space, I had to go off to the bathroom and have another cry. And then I went back to work.
jim - what a load of nonsense - you have no clue about what your writing - in the past, an option was given to a limited number of people to continue for a longer period of time based on their job duties and certain circumstances. you won't be seeing much of that in the future.
ReplyDeletebasically your are writing pure conjecture on your part and have no real source for what you are saying - your just as bad as many of the people commenting here however i guess you consider this blog to be journalistic
6:42p Jim is actually correct. I am on the east coast and am a manager and was just called tonight and told I will be terminated, but will still have to do some work before I can leave. My official day is Dec 19 and then I get my severance.
ReplyDeleteI also have to sit with HR to fire the rest of my team. Btw, my entire group is going.
Apparently, they have to start early so they can accomplish all this by mid week.
I was also told there will be another big round in February again.
This place is in bad shape.
Good luck friends. I am wearing black and blue tomorrow :)
I have never respected anyone at Gannett more than Jim for his fearless and tedious work on this blog. At the times I am merely crying hopeless tears for all that is being taken from us, I watch one of Jim's TV blogs and get a lift.
ReplyDeleteTo the managers out there who know what's in store tomorrow, PLEASE give some clue as to where you are writing from! It might be the last act of human kindness you can ever do for the people who have worked hard to keep YOUR jobs and their own over the years. What do you possibly have to lose? And you will earn the eternal remembrance that YOU cared for your staff people.
From a grieving NJ group employee!
6:51 -
ReplyDeletecould you please indicate
New England
Middle Atlantic
Whatever else is down there
for those of us who are still waiting?
Monday's 'deadline day' for USATers to volunteer to be laid off. Anybody heard of any volunteers?
ReplyDelete5:52: How are we supposed to provide perspective on the quality of journalism after the layoffs BEFORE the layoffs take place?
ReplyDelete6:52 -
ReplyDeleteit sounds as if their severance package - which may be negotiable - is tied to joining in on screwing the rest of us -
prove me wrong, please!
who will see the difference in the quality of journalism. Ninety percent is coming from wire
ReplyDeleteAnon 5:46 – Actually, it’s my understanding that Gannett does have to provide some type of information regarding people’s ages if asked, i.e. if you’re a reporter, Gannett legally has to provide you with the range of ages of those who sought a package and/or were terminated.
ReplyDeleteAnd, anyone else expecting a telephone call whereby they believe they will be fired should tape it (if your state laws allow it). If for anything, it’ll help bring those assholes out of the closet.
If your phone rings tonight, DO NOT ANSWER IT. If you don't answer the phone, you will not be laid off !
ReplyDeletethat's right, never answer the phone or look at your email - if they can't reach you, they can't get you.
ReplyDelete6:50 pm: Here's why I think I'm right that some people are being told they're laid off, but must stick around to lay off other people:
ReplyDeleteWilmington, Del., News Journal Publisher Curtis Riddle told employees in an e-mail on Nov. 4: "The job eliminations announced last week are expected to take place in early December, although special circumstances may dictate deferring the effective date a few weeks for one or more individuals."
Jim,
ReplyDeleteThat also could refer to people who are scheduled to work, say, the GA, night cops or night editor shift on Dec. 24 or 25, because everyone else in the newsroom has already made unbreakable plans.
Here's a suggested script for the HR folks (or whomever is doing the dirty deed) to follow:
ReplyDelete"Hi, thanks for stopping by my office on such short notice! I suppose you know that we have to make this meeting rather short because I have (fill in the number) more people to "chat" with after you. So how's the family? Would you care for a cup of coffee? It's only 85 cents in the vending machine down the hall.
As you have probably read in our competitors' newspaper, there is an economic crisis underway and those of us in the media business are being killed by this since most of our former advertisers have gone out of business because they spent all of their budget money with us and got no results. With that said, we have been directed by Gannett HQ to get rid of quite a few people here. It seems that they (Gannett Virginia) need to make sure that they can keep their company gym and cafeteria open for the CEO and the others down there since they've agreed to take a pay cut and can't afford lunch at Applebees or a membership in Bally's. And the Gannett Corporate jet plane is due for the 3000 mile oil change at Jiffy Lube before December 4th.
So, you have 30 seconds to make it from this office to your cube, clear out your personal stuff and be off this property within 5 minutes. Armed guards will assist you in this process.
Thanks for your service with Gannett and this newspaper. By the way, what's your name and what do you do here?"
Those who are being told their "entire groups" are going, in what group within your paper are you? Business, janitorial, sports, print shop, mailroom, HR, advertising, features, finance, administrative -- what group are you?
ReplyDeleteexactly - special circumstances - you are making an inference about managers hanging around to fire people that is not supported by the communication. logically, a more likely scenario is that there is a specific project that is being worked that needs to be completed but, after which, the position will no longer be available. you can try to twist the statement to your perspective but, once again, you have no support in fact for the statement that you are making. if you want to help people provide the complete information without emoting with your personal agenda
ReplyDelete6:59 PM
ReplyDeleteIt's my understanding that, under the age discrimination in employment act, anyone 40 and older who is let go in a layoff has a right to some extra notice information, including a list of all people laid off by position and age. It sure makes sense to me. Afterall, how are you supposed to know if the layoff hit that protected class (workers 40 and older) harder than it hit a non-protected class unless the company gives you the list?
7:11 -
ReplyDeleteFORGET IT -
Mr/s. East Coast is not going to tell you - too much at stake personally, in the form of bigger and better severance packages -
forget team work - forget caring bosses - it's all about #1, and it always has been, right 6:51?
It is the Gannett way to report on how the quality of journalism is impacted by layoffs BEFORE the layoffs actually take place. If you don't believe this, you are on old print dog.
ReplyDeleteCan't ONE of you people getting these calls tell us where you're from?????? Pleeeeeease!!!
ReplyDelete7:11 -
ReplyDeletethink Bureau(s)
Soooo! Is everyone wearing black tomorrow?
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing C-J gear just to be ironic.
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing my Gannett Ring
ReplyDeleteand them I'm going to pawn it
ReplyDeletehey, why not wear black all damn week! there's certainly enough to mourn to last that long.
ReplyDeletePAINT IT BLACK, EVERYBODY!
Jim,
ReplyDeletedon't you think it a bit ironic that part of your ad revenue is coming through google from the company you love to bash on this site
Are you talking about those ads promoting USA Today subscriptions? Yes; seems ironic.
ReplyDelete7:15 said : 6:59 PM
ReplyDeleteIt's my understanding that, under the age discrimination in employment act, anyone 40 and older who is let go in a layoff has a right to some extra notice information, including a list of all people laid off by position and age. It sure makes sense to me. Afterall, how are you supposed to know if the layoff hit that protected class (workers 40 and older) harder than it hit a non-protected class unless the company gives you the list?
---
Provide the text where it says this if you can. Typical poster here. No clue about the actual facts.
Somebody needs to clue the competitors in on these Sunday phone calls. That would make a great "How Not to Conduct Layoffs" story.
ReplyDeleteThe people on here saying they got "phone calls" will not give up any info because they don't have THE BALLS that god gave them...
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm talking about the google ads about jobs at Gannett, workplace culture, etc.
ReplyDeleteDo the people laying off co-workers take pride in their work? Do they come home and tell the wife they thought they did a good job not veering from the script, and they held it together real well when the employee started tearing up ?
ReplyDelete"I really felt like our meeting went well. I was able to drive home the point that this decision was non-negotiable... "
7:46 pm: Yup; seem those ones, too. That's why I'm getting so little ad sales revenue.
ReplyDeleteRE: Job Eliminations in the Over 40 Group
ReplyDeleteFor starters, if you haven't done so already, make a copy of the current employee list which may or may not include home phone numbers or cell phone numbers. Fold it neatly and put it in your pocket "just in case".
Most of us, whether we're laid-off or not will find out through word-of-mouth fairly quickly who was let go. If you ARE let go, call a co-worker from home to get up-to-date informatin. Keep jotting down the names and try to make a note of what town he/she is from.
Go online to PeopleSearchUSA and type in the name, town and state. Information such as age will come up.
Thus, you will have compiled a fairly accurate list of staffers who may or may not have been discriminated against due to age, etc.
Cheers!
Does anyone know about state bureaus who are paid on GNS payroll? Are they in the mix of layoffs?
ReplyDeleteJim, the thread with the list of questions to ask at your layoff meeting ... can you move it to the top of the home page again, for easy access?
ReplyDeleteSoooo, we need to give people over 40 more notice because... why? They read slower?
ReplyDeleteTell me why you should get a senior discount at the ballpark, your ass is just as wide as mine on the bleachers, and I'm more likely to spend money on beer.
Should be a senior surcharge.
Our Wisconsin paper had a note that classified ads would no longer be taken on Saturdays, starting yesterday - though our readers could go to our website and create their own ads if they liked.
ReplyDeleteOUR Wisconsin paper had a grand total of 10 pages of classified today - and three of those pages were garbage house ads for careerbuilder.com.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have 16 pages of employment alone, back when my paw worked down at the buggy whip factory.
Employment ads? What are those? Wilmington (101K) now has enough job-wanted ads on a weekday to fill all of two classified columns. Going to be a real sucky market for those who get laid off.
ReplyDeleteinfo on layoff-survival guilt -- and how companies SHOULD cushion the blow for everyone in the company's own self-interest
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shrm.org/hrmagazine/articles/1108/1108wells2.asp
Jim, a number of things:
ReplyDelete*Layoffs are supposed to happen next Tuesday and Wednesday - if some are happening tomorrow that's out of the ordinary. I know the dates because I will be laying people off both Tuesday and Wednesday.
* I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me, I feel much worse for the people I will be laying off - but this process has kept me up at night as well. I know that I will be messing up people's lives next week.
* For those sites laying people off by phone - shame on them.
Other issues:
* For the person who says Gannett has messed up the Thomson papers - give me a break. Our world has changed in the last five years and Thomson would likely have fared no better financially than Gannett.
* Regarding the profits by paper - you can be sure they are much lower this year: 10% - 50% lower. Yes, papers are still making money but the revenue situation is getting very serious - to the point that some papers will start losing money next year. These layoffs buy some time and will hopefully get us through the recession.
Friends the person that said they received a call today is a liar, pure and simple. Don't allow this ass to make your days any worse. My bet is it is the spammer from yesterday. Jim cut him off so he decided to play this game. He is a lying piece of crap. He doesn't identify himself because that would ruin his game. He hasn't had a date since Clinton was the President so this is how he gets his jollys.
ReplyDelete9:35
ReplyDeletenot sleeping well? oh, i'm sooooooooooooo sorry.
if you're not going to give a location you get no pity from me
you're pathetic
I opened our Des Moines Register Sunday business section, and found 2 McClatchy stories, nice now we don't have to hate our competition, we just buy their stories and lay off all our great staff.
ReplyDeleteI love how we have to pay more for the papers, have less staff, have ads done in India, and oh yes, frozen pensions, 401ks stuffed with worthless stock, and Happy Thanksgiving - You are laid off.
Christmas? Better afford it with your unemployment or find a new job.
9:35 p.m., why isn't Gannett selling excess physical property, leasing extra space and using existing resources in diversified business ventures, instead of laying off newsroom and advertising talent -- the two areas that can bring profit to the company during and after the recession?
ReplyDeleteThe company is profitable. The direction makes no sense from a business management point of view.
Some have speculated this is about the smoke and mirrors on Wall Street, that layoffs drives up confidence in ignorant investors to believe management is doing something useful even though it's really putting more holes in a sinking ship.
Haven't any of you told the emporer his beautiful new robes are invisible? Afraid of losing your own positions to disillusion him?
10:10,
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to give my location - not sure why that's important. Read my whole post before you criticize me. I was just trying to offer some insight. No reason to call names. I won't return the favor.
guess what? I have a habit of reading an entire post/article before commenting - and you are still pathetic
ReplyDelete9:59, I'm with you on that. My BS meter went off reading that stuff. I don't buy this whole idea that they'd give a manager the heave-ho and tell them, oh, by the way, you're here through XX date while we complete the layoffs. I know if I were a manager and got a call like that, I'd tell them I would be in with my lawyer and a police officer to collect my belongings (which isn't much at this point) and then I would be out of there and they could do the dirty work.
ReplyDelete10:30:
ReplyDeleteThat's what they did with our credit department employees. Not by phone, but they were told they were being laid off in two weeks, once the transition to the regionalized credit center was finished. They were expected to be at work and do their job until the end date. And they did.
10:30.
ReplyDeleteWhatever, you can call me whatever you want, it's not going to stop me from posting if that's what I choose to do. Not sure why you think I was asking for your pity. You have no idea who I am but you believe you can make judgments about me? Give me a break.
and then -Surprise! - you lose your severance package!
ReplyDelete10:34 -
ReplyDeletewho asked you to stop posting?
I'm just calling it like a see it -
which is, I believe, also my right? or is that limited to you?
can the freehold school girl please tell us what's up with APP printing??
ReplyDelete10:36,
ReplyDeleteYes, it's absolutely your right.
9:35 p.m., is the severance lump sum paid in tax year 2008 or continuation of pay through the week/year? If the latter, do our insurance benefits, 401k, etc. -- all including company contributions -- continue uninterrupted to the end of the week/year severance payout?
ReplyDeleteThis matters. One in 10 of us need to have a plan in place that may require a talk with a tax lawyer or to go to court in divorce/shared custody matters with short time in a busy holiday season. Gannett should have said so when it gave notice of layoffs Oct. 29.
10:25,
ReplyDeleteMy response to you disappeared so I'm sorry if this shows up twice.
I agree, cutting expenses is a bad long term strategy. We will only get out of this by growing revenue - and that will likely require new revenue streams. As to your question, I have not expressed my opinions to Craig Dubow but I have shared them with some very senior people in the company and they don't necessarily disagree.
9:59:
ReplyDeleteFrom a previous post from Asheville, about severance packages going bye-bye if one chooses not to play their game by their rules:
"As outlined in our Severance Packages “This severance is contingent upon your working through 01-04-09 with perfect attendance, except in the case of sick time that is supported by a Doctor’s note."
10:42,
ReplyDeleteI will find out for sure tomorrow but my understanding is that the person remains on the payroll with all benefits, contributions, etc. intact until the end of the severance period. I will post tomorrow when I find our for sure.
9:35
ReplyDeleteIf Big G was being nice to their employees, they could given the severance as a lump sum, which would then have allowed the former employee to collect unemployment from day #1. Some companies do it this way. For real.
As it is now, you have to use up your severance payments before you can collection unemployment, which is, of course, a loss to the former E but a win for Big G, as it saves them money on unemployment insurance.
9:35
ReplyDeleteinterestingly enough, with the earlier mass layoff, medical benefits were included in the MEMO - were they this time? my memory says NO
10:49.
ReplyDeleteI'm 99% sure benefits will stay intact until the severance period ends but I will double check.
10:45, I'm not 100% positive on this, but from what I've heard from previous layoff-ees was that you can collect unemployment at the same time you are collecting your severance. That's what I plan to do. This may vary from state-to-state or maybe I heard wrong, but it would be worth applying for or asking your HR rep when you're escorted to the woodshed.
ReplyDeleteall of your medical, 401k, etc. will stay in place. I would even assume that if you pay for parking then that would still come out of your paycheck. Your check should stay the same as it did before being layed off. These are all the questions you need to WRITE down so that when you are shocked that it is actually YOU losing your job you will know what to ask. WRITE IT DOWN.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is a disservice to offer severance as pay continuation instead of lump sum, as long as benefits continue.
ReplyDelete"Big G" contributions to our medical, dental, vision and life insurance is worth some $$$, and the tax disadvantage to lump sum after almost a full 2008 work year would screw long-tenured people in the 2008 tax obligation.
Besides, every expert is warning this "recession" is going to get much worse before it gets better. We may need to put in for the duration of our unemployment insurance and the six months' max COBRA for our families' medical even after that severance period expires.
And thank you very much, to the person who offered to check this detail for us tomorrow. I'll look for your update. I guess paid vacation time doesn't accrue during that week/year period, though? Don't laugh. I'm just a journalist being thorough.
you are not going to be charged for parking...what a bunch of nonsense. why would anyone turn to this blog for information. seriously, do not use this site for FACTUAL information.
ReplyDeleteHey, 10:25 p.m., investors may be many things, but i don't think "ignorant" would be a good assumption.
ReplyDeleteTo the top brass here: Was there any talk of bringing people out of layoff status if things pick up before the severance relationship runs out?
ReplyDeleteIf not, it would make me, too, wonder about whether the full purpose of this layoff is what we're being told it is.
In manufacturing (back in the ancient days of the U.S.), laid off workers went back to work first when business picked up, even if they'd used severance and unemployment up.
11:32 - please go away - I think Craig is calling you for a foot massage and an enema
ReplyDeleteWhat up Guam ?
ReplyDelete11:39 - i should go away. in the mean time, you will probably post some very important information that will enlighten everyone on what will happen. of course, it will be completely wrong as usual. yes, indeed, everyone should just go away who could possibly call baloney on the nonsense that passes for information.
ReplyDeletei'm waiting for your pithy response. i'm sure it will be really good this time.
11:38 - that is entirely possible but not usually common. As these cuts continue to get deeper it may become more likely. One scenario I see playing out is as they keep the youngsters and cut the experience (and superior work ethic) the youngsters are going to be much less receptive to added work loads and will boogey quickly. This will leave holes that as time goes on will need to be filled. By cutting into bone and being so damn lean the company will be reluctantly forced to look at people they kicked to the curb as they realize the failure of this strategy. My firm hope is most or all of us can firmly raise our middle finger when they call because we have found something better.
ReplyDeleteJim, any chance we could make anonymous the default when posting?
ReplyDeleteThoughts and prayers go out to fellow Gannett employees as this difficult week begins.
ReplyDelete11:32, and are you the same as 11:44, I'm not sure what your parking line was in response to, but at least some sites DO charge for parking. Sometimes it's due to years-old deals struck between the paper and the local city government for city-owned parking spaces, and sometimes for other reasons... But it is FACTUAL some of us pay for company-controlled parking.
ReplyDeletewould you have to pay to park there even though you no longer work there ? just curious
ReplyDelete11:49 pm: I have no control over those default settings; sorry.
ReplyDeleteI am in multi-media, and I think a project having high impact would be something with photos of workspaces now empty because of layoffs, buyouts and the general downsizing of the newpspaer industry. I'm guessing there are offices and cubicles at Gannett sites across the country now empty. Jim could collect the photos and post them on his blog. Would be very sad, but it would tell a story in a way that words can't.
ReplyDeleteBelow are the lyrics to a Bob Seger song from 30 years ago - the famous final scene - the lyrics seem fitting - perhaps the photos gathered from 12:16 could be put to this music
ReplyDeleteThink in terms of bridges burned
Think of seasons that must end
See the rivers rise and fall
They will rise and fall again
Everything must have an end
Like an ocean to a shore
Like a river to a stream
Like a river to a stream
Its the famous final scene
And how you tried to make it work
Did you really think it could
How you tried to make it last
Did you really think it would
Like a guest who stayed too long
Now its finally time to leave
Yes, its finally time to leave
Take it calmly and serene
Its the famous final scene
Its been coming on so long
You were just the last to know
Its been a long time since youve smiled
Seems like oh so long ago
Now the stage has all been set
And the nights are growing cold
Soon the winter will be here
And theres no one warm to hold
Now the lines have all been read
And you knew them all by heart
Now you move toward the door
Here it comes the hardest part
Try the handle of the road
Feeling different feeling strange
This can never be arranged
As the light fades from the screen
From the famous final scene
Re the parking payments continuing, it's doubtful for two reasons: 1. The aforementioned payments are voluntary as you don't have to park in company-controlled lots/garages (i should have mentioned that); 2. they (top editors at a layoff-update meeting) said that employees would have deduction options for their bi-weekly severance payments.
ReplyDelete10:45PM In a buyout situation in NJ you cannot collect severance and unemployment at the same time. The unemployment will be waiting for you after the severance runs out, but they will try to deduct pension payments from your unemployment unless you prove you directly rolled it over.
ReplyDeleteI understand you will do best to say you did not receive a pension because rolling it over makes it as accessible to yours as when Gannett "held" it for you. EVERY STATE IS DIFFERENT, and gewttin information prior to the actual moment you need it is like pulling teeth. Answers are vague or refused!
After experiencing all this, maybe we can qualifiy to work at H & R Block!
10:34, I see what you're saying and I know they did something similar in the case of the APP drivers in September. I guess it just seems beyond sleazy to me to tell a manager "You're gone, but you have to stay and sit with us while we torture some of your co-workers, too." And especially by calling them on a Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThen again, we are talking about Gannett here, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by anything.
I'm sending prayers out to everyone who's going to get the ax this week and for those left behind (except for the bigwigs who are sucking this place dry). This is going to be a long, miserable week for a lot of us. I hope and pray that everyone can find a better situation in the long run.
To 5:25 and anyone else in nj - you CAN and SHOULD collect unemployment while getting severance. I KNOW and when i went to my little orientation I specifically asked the facilitator. She said of course. It makes sense as well - I banked it and now that I am no longer am getting severance my unemployment continues.
ReplyDelete5:25 my mistake with prior post. I wasn't thinking buyout - if you are laid off you can double collect. If i accepted a buyout I would apply anyway and you might have to wait for a period but you eventually will get it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thought. I see pros and cons both ways. Banking the unemployment -- or using it to pay off any bills -- gives you an advantage in some ways. However, that also shortens the length of time you are covered by some form of payments, which could be a big problem in this economy.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right 8:20 - I'm trying to be optimistic about finding a job before the 26 weeks UI runs out but it is looking grim. I understand there is a 13 week extension in NJ.
ReplyDeleteI thought I heard the federal gov't extended it to 31 weeks. Not sure about a 13-week extension in NJ, but I know I'll be checking since I'm in NJ too.
ReplyDelete12:16, excellent idea. Hope Jim runs with it.
ReplyDelete12:16 AM suggested photos or videos of empty desks?
ReplyDeleteHeck, my chair hardly got cold before they reorganized the info ctr and put "online" folks (who had been separate on another floor) in my place.
The pods are full as they ever were and they'll cram the janitors in there if they have to disguise how few people are left.