Gannett announces furloughs

Does anyone think Gannett will rescind the furloughs/restore pay once the crisis passes?

 

Maybe for optics, but, even before this, they were going to have to cut to profitability. So I think it is more likely that the furloughs go away, but the pay cuts stay in place, or, they just cut other positions.

Also - Seems like some more furloughs went into place at Gatehouse papers either to start this week or late last week. Saw various former colleagues talking about it on Facebook.

 

The Gannett cuts that will be coming will be monstrous.

 

Agreed. They need to cut to survive, and especially now. Plus this crisis gives them a convenient excuse.

I give this less than a 1 percent chance of happening. More likely would be the announcement of additional furloughs and pay cuts, in addition to more layoffs.

 

Probably quarterly furloughs through the end of next year and then first quarter in 2022 and '23

 

Hiring freeze, pay freeze and one week per month furloughs until 12/31. That's my best case guess. I don't want to think what the worst case might be.

 

Since the government has to pay unemployment benefits to reporters who get furloughed, does the government ever penalize the news organization that are doing the furloughing? If furloughs last 8-12 months out of a full year pay scale ... that's a lot of money the government is paying out. You'd think they'd tell the newspapers to cut it out or the CEO gets thrown in jail.

 

LOL.

No.

 

Great post. When will Gannett end USA Today? They probably could save a lot of money scrapping the print USA Today and help speed the end of the print product nationally.

 

At least 2 ad directors let go today in my region

 

Which region?