Friday, April 3, 2009

Two more indications that it's coming soon

Readers confirm that managers had firing school meeting today. And I'm told that two offices in the fourth floor hallway have had their windows papered over for "privacy."

Those offices have been used in the past for delivering the news.
Windows were papered over then, too.

11 comments:

  1. So much for hoping it was just the new budget-savvy fourth-floor office decor. Curtains cost way more.

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  2. You wanna know whether you're on the list? Try looking your supervisor in the eyes and see if they look away. Not very scientific, but it works.

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  3. You'd probably need to go pretty far up the chain of command for that to work. Or do you think that lower-level bosses have been told about their reports?

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  4. While upper management is typically close-mouthed about these things, they have to tell the lower-level folks at some point who they are going to be going into a room with to lay off. Department heads should know names, if there was a layoff school session today. Some are not so cold-hearted that they won't be unhappy about what's to happen.

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  5. I know my supervisor is having therapy over this because he/she actually cares. Let's remember also that these same supervisors could do the dirty work, then be let go themselves. It's the reality we live in.

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  6. It's a tough read, but if your supervisor seems sincere in not knowing a thing, look out. That was my situation, and we were both let go, cutting loose a combined 43 years' experience. Expect the worst this coming week so you can handle the situation with dignity and a clear head.

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  7. I cannot stop crying this morning.

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  8. As always, my thoughts and good wishes are with my former colleagues during these very trying times. I've been away from the DMN for 2.5 years now, but it still seems like only yesterday at times. All the best, and keep your heads held high. There's no crying in baseball, but there IS crying when something like this happens. Let it out rather than hold it in. I've learned that that's the best way. Then be assured that your futures are ahead of you. Hope this doesn't sound too pious or melodramatic. But it's meant sincerely.

    Ed Bark

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  9. What I find infuriating and appalling is how ABUSIVE A.H. Belo management has been towards their employees. The disdain with which the employees' mental health has been considered is, frankly, appalling!! It should be illegal to subject employees to THIS much stress and uncertainty for this amount of time!
    The executives should have gotten their act together a lot sooner or made the RIF announcements much later. Lives have been on "hold" and futures up in the air for waaaaay too long. Like I said, this torture of the workfoce should be against the law!

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  10. Security says the layoffs will start Tuesday, April 7. The hit list includes a lot of managers. Let's hope they lay off fewer workers. Who needs, in one department, a director, two assistant directors and several managers. My manager is either getting the axe or he is just plain lying that he has heard nothing. I hope he has to go through the pain of losing a job.

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