gannett plans to layoff 3,000 by december.

Lots of good "bennies" in Gannett. For all of their negatives, benefits typically aren't the problem.

Lots of personal days at some shops too, along with mucho vacation days.

 

Hmmm... I think individual papers each have their own plans. Most everyone I know at the local Gannett shop uses a spouse's benes if their spouse works.

 

Part of that could be the ridiculous "spouse" surcharge Gannett has had in place for a few years. If the spouse has access to benefits then Gannett charges, I forget, it's pretty steep -- 150-200 bucks extra a month? -- extra to cover the spouse.

 

$150 extra.

There's also a surcharge for smokers.

And rumors are they're pushing for a surcharge on overweight people, which if you go according to the BMI scale would be probably 70% of the Gannett workforce.

 

SOCILISM!!!!

 

Or socialism.

In my mind, that's wonderful for Gannett to provide quality benefits. But what good are they if you're gone after the next round of layoffs in October? At my shop, we've already been cutting into bone.

Getting rid of Dubow and adjusting the executive bonuses would save a load of money and make sense. That second part is why it will never happen.

 

Which is pretty bad for someone who is overweight. Even worse for someone who is in shape because they do a lot of weight lifting and is overweight according to the BMI.

 

Honestly, the day they ask people to step on scales for HR for insurance, that's the day to start thinking about leaving. I actually don't agree with the smoker's surcharge either although I'm none too thrilled to have to sit next to someone who comes back from smoke breaks and makes me gag. Especially when that person lies on the HR form every year and says he's NOT a smoker, apparently quits for like a week for that and then immediately goes back to smoking again.

 

Correct. If you just went by BMI, when Shaq was in his prime, he was considered obese. Ridiculous.

 

Terrible example with Shaq because he hasn't been in shape since like '93, but I see where you are going.

Brian Urlacher has a BMI of 31.4 and is considered obese.

Adrian Peterson is at 27.6 and considered overweight.

Larry Fitzgerald is at 27.1 also overweight. I'm sure we could do this for any athlete.

Lance Armstrong 25.1 overweight!

 

Health insurance is a state-by-state thing.

 

I can appreciate the flaws in the BMI system, but my inkling is that maybe two or three people Gannettwide would be considered obese because they are too buff.