Tribune introduces 'discretionary time off'

This could be gold for anyone who doesn't give a fuck. Office Space II.

 

Salary employees are those that are exempt from overtime. That not only includes supervising editors but senior reporters and columnists.

 

A friend of mine with a Tribune paper says that shortly after this policy was announced, his supervisor assembled everybody who reported to him for a meeting. The supervisor reminded the group of how shorthanded the department is (as if they needed reminding) and said that everyone is to assume that even under the new policy, they're getting the same amount of time off next year that they did this year (for example, five-plus years with the company equals three weeks of vacation time). Then the boss told them that anyone who asks for more than that is likely to have the request rejected unless there's an illness or an emergency. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

This wasn't Ma Herald's policy, but it certainly was the reality.

 

Wait. So that paper is only giving employees the same amount of vacation as they had last year?

Those sons of bitches. Burn the editor's house down.

 

Who needs a vacation when you get to cover sports or news for a living???? You get to go to games people!!!! For free!!!

 

Just sent out Friday night from CEO Jack Griffin:

"Last week, a Company communication went out regarding a new Discretionary Time Off policy for exempt employees. The change in policy outlined in the note created confusion and concern within the Company. The purpose of this note is to let you know that, based on valuable input from employees, the DTO policy is rescinded.

In reversing the decision, our Company is reverting back to its long-standing policy of providing a fixed amount of vacation, floating holidays and sick days per year based on level and tenure with the Company. Additionally, employees in California will continue to retain accrued and unused vacation.

As we go forward as a new Company, the management team and I will ensure that any significant changes to policy will involve better opportunity for input from many constituencies within the Company.

Thank you for your understanding and continued commitment to helping shape our new Company."

 

Or sit on the copy desk, draw boxes on the computer and try to think up puns for headlines.

 

Bad and embarrassing news is always released on a Friday night.

"Create confusion and concern within the company". Either they really didn't think this through, or they weren't prepared to get shredded.

 

Well, glad to see Tribune go back to its old PTO policy. Now commence layoffs in 3, 2, 1...

 

The new PTO policy lasted about as long as some of the frequent redesigns of the Tribune paper in my neck of the woods.

 

Dumb Gannett initiatives usually last longer than Tribune's new PTO policy.