Sports editor's OT lawsuit against Gannett

clutchcargo · Aug 17, 2010

As a sports reporter in the '80s and early '90s, which wasn't THAT long ago, I suppose I regularly worked 60 or so hours a week and still felt I had PLENTY of time for dating, golf, movies, vacations, whatever.

This whole debate about federal wage/hours laws, exempt vs. nonexempt, OT rules, 40-hour work weeks, workplace lawsuits, etc. never entered the equation---just didn't enter my mind. Seemed pretty much the same with others on staff around me.

That said, I'm also pretty sure that companies are limited as to what % of their employees can be classified exempt----you just can't declare 80% of your employees exempt then work them 70-80 hours a wek. I"m no legal expert, but I'm thinking that's the case.

Mizzougrad96 · Aug 17, 2010

albert77 said:

When we had furloughs last year, and first quarter this year, we weren't allowed to work off the clock. We couldn't even call the office.

Last year, in order not to let things slide too bad in my beat while I was on furlough, I piecemealed the days, only taking one in a given week. This year, I said screw it and took a whole week off.
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You should be applauded for your work ethic, but you probably cost yourself a couple hundred by not taking the full week and collecting unemployment.

Ace · Aug 17, 2010

Mizzougrad96 said:

albert77 said:

When we had furloughs last year, and first quarter this year, we weren't allowed to work off the clock. We couldn't even call the office.

Last year, in order not to let things slide too bad in my beat while I was on furlough, I piecemealed the days, only taking one in a given week. This year, I said screw it and took a whole week off.
Click to expand...

You should be applauded for your work ethic, but you probably cost yourself a couple hundred by not taking the full week and collecting unemployment.
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Depends on the state.

JC · Aug 17, 2010

Twoback said:

jfs1000 said:

StaggerLee said:

RickStain said:

If management want to offer me a salaried position and I accept, I'd put in every hour needed and then some. But I'm hourly, and I'll be damned if I'm going to work off the clock.
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But that's the problem in Gannett, specifically. Gannett's way of getting past the OT problem is by creating as many "management" positions as possible and dump the entire workload on them.

Example: My sports department has three people, two of which are "managers" (exempt from overtime). In our newsroom, errrr Information Center, there are 21 total employees (counting the three or four who work mainly on niche monthlies). Of those 21, nine of them have "editor" titles of some sort. As recently as four months ago, we had 11 "managers" of the 21 people in the newsroom. There's something fundamentally, and probably illegally, wrong with 50% of your newsroom being exempt from collecting overtime.

Care to take a wild guess which employees are the ones working 50-60 hours a week to make sure the products get out the door on a daily basis?
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I don't know the laws in every state, but to be a manager and an exempt staff (exempt from receiving overtime) you have to manage someone. You can't be called a manager, and have not manage anyone. I imagine Gannett is cheating the system. If you want to burn bridges, go ask for the time you are supposed to work.

And on the people who regular work 50-60 hours, they are white-collar professionals who are compensated for their work. Journalists are blue collar workers. We are craftsmen. That's the best way to look at the dynamic.
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I am not now, and have never been in my 30-year career, a blue-collar worker.
The guy who drives the truck and delivers the paper, the guy who prints it, they are.
I am not saying this to be dismissive of blue-collar workers. My father-in-law was a Teamster and one of the most wonderful men I've ever met.
But I did not go to college for four years and graduate to be considered blue collar.
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How awfully arrogant of you.
I'd bet those lowly blue collars workers are making a hell of a lot more money than 95% of the people on this board.

Twoback · Aug 17, 2010

I would expect that you would read the posts before commenting.
Perhaps that's too much to ask.

wicked · Aug 17, 2010

Folks didn't spend $100k or more on a college education to be considered "blue-collar worker(s)."

I'm kind of insulted when I'm told I'm supposed to take Walmart-style wages after dropping the amount of money (nowhere near $100k) I did on my degree.

Ace · Aug 17, 2010

Since most reporters/editors work in a friggin' cubicle, they are white collar workers.

JimmyHoward33 · Aug 17, 2010

I don't care what color my collar is unless I get above the poverty line I'm working 40 hours period. If I'm offered OT I'll take it. If they want me to work it for free they can stuff it.

mustangj17 · Aug 18, 2010

Mizzougrad96 said:

albert77 said:

When we had furloughs last year, and first quarter this year, we weren't allowed to work off the clock. We couldn't even call the office.

Last year, in order not to let things slide too bad in my beat while I was on furlough, I piecemealed the days, only taking one in a given week. This year, I said screw it and took a whole week off.
Click to expand...

You should be applauded for your work ethic, but you probably cost yourself a couple hundred by not taking the full week and collecting unemployment.
Click to expand...

A few news reporters at the last shop complained they couldn't afford furloughs and then they took scattered days off. Me? I took a full week, and when I returned my boss asked me where my weekly feature was (they were do each Wednesday for me). I told him I was not employed by the company that week, and in two days (the next Wednesday) I would have it for him. He was not very happy with this.

SixToe · Aug 18, 2010

He was not very happy with this.
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Tough shit.

Good for you for not working for free.

kingcreole · Aug 18, 2010

albert77 said:

When we had furloughs last year, and first quarter this year, we weren't allowed to work off the clock. We couldn't even call the office.
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Yep, we went through that too. The irony is some folks have been hammered for not checking/replying to email while on vacation.

Stitch · Aug 18, 2010

SixToe said:

He was not very happy with this.
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Tough shit.

Good for you for not working for free.
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I would have said worse. The dick should be left living in a box under an overpass.

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Sports editor's OT lawsuit against Gannett

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Sports editor's OT lawsuit against Gannett

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