gannett plans to layoff 3,000 by december.

The Joe W. quote speaks for me, also. I am at the exact spot, in terms of the spouse and family. This hits home.

 

Our cut day is Thursday. We should know names by then. I think a lot of places are just eliminating positions that aren't currently filled. I guess that's an easy way of cutting payroll (at least budgeted payroll).

I'm kind of concerned because my boss was asked specifically if he would be there Thursday for the announcement. Our EE made it sound like he needed to be there. Oh well, whatever happens happens.

 

Good luck Stagger. I feel for you. Apparently the severance packages are being outsourced so you should google Total Management Solutions and go in prepared.

This is going to be a bad day in Gannettland.

 

When was the last good one?

Other than Craig Dubow's $851,000 bonus for firing thousands of people last year?

 

Obviously when we found out he is well and recovering from back surgery.

I could barely work that day, knowing that our fearless leader and his golden parachute were under the knife.

 

I haven't seen any names there either.

 

I'm interested in how the severance will be handled this round, because it may have some bearing for remaining employees on whether they want to tough it out or not.

If you can no longer count on a severance package, even if for a few weeks, to float by on while you look for a new job...one more reason to look for another job while you're still employed (which all of us should probably be doing anyway).

 

From what I read on Gannettblog and Gannettoid.com, the Total Management Solutions severance package is crappy as hell.

Basically, a person laid off would have to apply for unemployment and receive it. Gannett's severance package would make up the difference between the unemployment and your weekly salary for one week per year that you worked. Nothing is said about health insurance or anything like that.

In other words, Gannett is using your state's taxpayer dollars to fund your severance package.

 

Total Management Solutions? Why not just call it the Final Solution?

 

Not to denigrate the victims of the Holocaust because nothing can compare to that, but in a way, that's what it's felt like for the past few months. You almost feel like you're standing on line and waiting for the Nazi officer to point you to the left (death) or the right (life). The waiting is terrible.

 

Severance is apparently pretty much a joke. I guess the feeling is that you're going either way, whether we put a some love in your pocket as you head out the door or not.

 

I think I used TMS to pay for my first semester of college -- the second time around. Like a four-month payment plan.

Didn't realize they handle big things like severence packages.