The Westchester County (N.Y) Journal News

[me too]

The calls are starting.

If you opted to leave early or are targeted for the layoff, you will likely be getting a call soon. Today will be your last day.

Got that right!

[Confused]

How do you know layoffs are starting today. There is no sign of this in Harrison yet to us rank and file.

[someone]

How do you know layoffs are starting today. There is no sign of this in Harrison yet to us rank and file.

I am home and got a call asking if I'm coming in today. I said no, I'll be in tomorrow, and no more was said about it. No one said anything about last day.

[Gannettoid]

Westchester publisher Michael Fisch replied to an e-mail from Gannettoid.com.

His comments are below and posted at http://www.Gannettoid.com/westchester0826.html

From Michael Fisch to Gannettoid.com:
Those employees who opted out of the process are being met with today. These employees are being presented their TPP packets and they are receiving their information and representatives from HR are providing them the information they need to go forward.

We will begin meeting today with employees who are being offered positions and those
who are not as we complete the meetings with those opting out of process. This process will likely continue over today and tomorrow.

Some employees who have opted out will be given the option of leaving today, and others will work through Friday depending on their positions. All employees departing the company whether voluntarily or involuntarily will be paid through the 28th of August. Obviously questions regarding benefits, and other issues need to be addressed to Human Resources because each employee's situation may be different.


Fisch also sent the following note to his staff:
We are continuing the process of restructuring which I communicated earlier this month.

This week we are completing the restructuring in advertising and the Information Center. A number of employees in these two areas made a personal decision to voluntarily opt out of the restructure process and they are being provided their transition pay packets today, and most will leave today.

We have also begun the process of notifying employees in these two departments whether they are being offered a position in the restructured organization or not. These discussions begin today and will likely continue into tomorrow.

Those employees not being offered a position in the new structure will be allowed to leave based on departmental needs. Those employees leaving either voluntarily or not will be provided a transitional pay package, and they will be paid through August 28th.

I want to thank each of these individuals for the contributions they have made to our organization. These are difficult times, and we wish each of them success in their future endeavors.

[Clueless]

I think the publisher's note makes it worse if you still don't know.

[newsforyou]

Check out this blog post by Steve Gosset:

http://realitybitesback.blogspot.com/20 ... -news.html

[Gannettoid]

Check out this blog post by Steve Gosset:

http://realitybitesback.blogspot.com/20 ... -news.html

Thanks for sharing that. For readers not familiar, Gosset is a former News Journal employee.

The post linked to is from Aug. 14. Here's a portion of what he wrote:

It's scary that a lot of people I know -- I worked at the J-N 20 years ago -- are in danger of losing their jobs in a business where they've worked most of their adult lives with little hope of finding another news job if they don't make the cut.

What's even more frightening is they could have even more company sooner than later. Publisher Michael Fisch told a staff meeting that revenues have plunged as much as 35 percent in the past year.

[sharenewsplease]

I hear some people are getting good news. Can people share if there have been any layoffs yet, too?

[Guest]

yes, there have been layoffs

[Gannettoid]

yes, there have been layoffs

Any proof? Anyone get offered a job? Anyone accept a job? Please e-mail news@gannettoid.com

[Need to know]

I know for a fact that some people have been informed both ways, but I'm not going to write about their personal situations on this site. Maybe people can post about themselves?

I want to know is it over for today or are they going into the evening?

What about other offices in Rockland and Mount Kisco?

[Gannettoid]

Thanks Need to know.

A better form of proof would be links to any Twitter pages or blogs by employees who are writing about their own situations. Same with other layoffs, we don't want full names posted here, but if someone has posted something elsewhere on the Internet and somebody finds that, please do share.

[Former reporter]

I'm sorry to report I was just laid off. Brief conversation. They said they were sorry, but I think the the process has dulled everyone a bit.

I have lots of questions, but I guess I'll pose them to HR.

This September marks 16 years since I started my first full-time job as a reporter.

I can still remember my first assignment. I am as excited today about the final assignment I'm still finishing.

I don't understand why I was let go exactly. I certainly fit all of the criteria they are looking for in terms of social media savvy.

Good luck to all of us.

Thanks to all of my wonderful colleagues!

[wrtrgal5]

I'm sorry to report I was just laid off. Brief conversation. They said they were sorry, but I think the the process has dulled everyone a bit.

I have lots of questions, but I guess I'll pose them to HR.

This September marks 16 years since I started my first full-time job as a reporter.

I can still remember my first assignment. I am as excited today about the final assignment I'm still finishing.

I don't understand why I was let go exactly. I certainly fit all of the criteria they are looking for in terms of social media savvy.

Good luck to all of us.

Thanks to all of my wonderful colleagues!

I'm sorry to hear that and may know you from the newsroom. Best of luck to you and to all my colleagues, too. Like you, I was as excited about my final story here as I was about my first byline way back when. I worked with terrific reporters, editors and photographers.

[EX Production '65-'94]

With USA Today and the financial paper leaving, any layoffs in production?
Good Luck to all!

[Gannettoid]

I'm sorry to report I was just laid off. Brief conversation. They said they were sorry, but I think the the process has dulled everyone a bit. ...

Thanks for sharing that. And good luck to you and all of your colleagues.

For everyone who will be logging onto the Transitional Pay site soon, look in the lower, right-hand corner after you sign in. It will say when your information was last updated. When I was laid off on July 9, I signed on a few days later and noticed my information was entered on the site a week before I was laid off. That's an odd feeling even though it's clear they need to prepare for the layoffs at least a few days ahead of carrying them out.

[wondering]

The calls are starting.

If you opted to leave early or are targeted for the layoff, you will likely be getting a call soon. Today will be your last day.

Got that right!

Is anyone NOT going to sign that e-mail from MS?

[newsie]

It seems quiet out here. Has anyone heard more?

[Gannettoid]

We just got this in e-mail. For those of us still in the office wrapping up things, it is like a slap in the face. How tasteless:

For Metro staff
Babcock, Laurel
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:42 AM
To:
tjn-news
Vacation requests for 4th quarter are now open (though there shouldn't be
many since everyone put theirs in, right?)

In reviewing the upcoming holiday shifts, we now have two open slots on
Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, but perhaps we can do without them.

However, I did note this for Christmas Day:

Reporters
9-5:
11-7: Shawn C.
2-10:
4-12:


Volunteers are now being accepted. I want to wrap this up by the end of next
week. Thanks.

[A Guest]

Yesterday afternoon the place was a mess with reporters and photographers called up to the third floor where HF and CR either gave them a new job or sent them for Transition Pay Packages in HR. The entire business staff is part of the casualties, four in photo and I am not sure about the newsroom. The numbers were probably offset by those that opted out, and there may be more announcements today if Fisch's memo is a clue.

There were plenty of parking spaces and it's clear that newsroom will be sparsely populated. I imagine they will try to sell and rent back space soon, no need for all those desks and offices.

Word is there is some effort underway to keep Pulitzer winner Matt Davies, not sure what the status is on that.

Best of luck to all who decided to leave or stay. Can't say which group has more security ahead.