gannett plans to layoff 3,000 by december.

I half wonder if the severance packages are a part of the company's strategy to trim employees. Not directly of course but indirectly: along with the main benefit of saving itself money by not paying severance, Gannett indirectly benefits from people who don't want to get caught with a shitty severance package so, if they are able to find any kind of decent job, take it and give their notice.

 

The severance packages do sound like a PITA to have to deal with, but a week's pay for every year up to 26 can still be a lot of money, depending on time of service. I feel look that it's still that much. It does suck, though, that you lose it if you get a job.

 

That's a screwed-up severance plan. I know unemployment formulas vary by state, but ones I'm familar with, if you're getting money from an ex-employer, it counts against anything you would get from UI. Usually, you get X weeks of severance and you end up inelgible for the unemployment benefit until those weeks run out (regardless of when the actual money runs out).

These states should prosecute Gannett for trying to sponge their corporate bloodletting tactics off the gov't.

 

It seems to me that Gannett is using this severance plan in the hopes that they won't have to pay any severance to the workers in the states that won't pay until severance is done.

They then will figure, "Well, we tried to give you a severance plan, but your state won't allow you to collect it." while laughing all the way to the bank.

 

Cincinnati laid off a bunch of people Wednesday and I'm told Round 2 is Thursday.

 

In Phoenix, we lost two members of our staff: An assistant editor and our golf writer. Damn shame to lose two good people.

 

Well, hey, it's not like golf is big in Phoenix.

*Sigh*

 

The entire metromix staff, according to Gannettblog.

 

Is that an entertainment site of some sort?

 

The entire staff of CINWeekly, the Enquirer's take on the alternative weekly publication, was let go on Wednesday.

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/07/06/daily39.html

 

A few years ago, that was Gannett's big bet on the future. I wonder if Indy will dump its version of that.