Bad day ...

[ColbertNation]

Granted, not as bad as some others that have been posted on this bored recently, but still not great. We had a staff meeting today and were informed of a wage freeze ("until the economy improves" -- how vague is that timetable?) and a reduction in mileage reimbursement. They also did some layoffs/restructuring outside of the newsroom. Supposedly, we're safe for now.
The publisher did give us a pep talk at the end of the meeting, telling us to "Buck up." Somehow, I was less than inspired.

 

[Babs]

Wage freezes are happening in a lot of industries. If we have deflation, you'll come out ahead, oddly.

 

[JakeandElwood]

Our mileage has dropped like a rock with gas prices. Funny how it never seemed to rise nearly as fast, when it actually did.

 

[ColbertNation]

Our mileage has dropped like a rock with gas prices. Funny how it never seemed to rise nearly as fast, when it actually did.

The mileage drop marks the second time in three weeks that the company has reneged on points that were agreed upon in our most recent contract. I'm not holding my breath waiting for them to give back any of the concessions we made.

 

[deskslave]

Our mileage has dropped like a rock with gas prices. Funny how it never seemed to rise nearly as fast, when it actually did.

The mileage drop marks the second time in three weeks that the company has reneged on points that were agreed upon in our most recent contract. I'm not holding my breath waiting for them to give back any of the concessions we made.

So...if there's a contract, why aren't the details of said contract being enforced?

 

[ColbertNation]

Our mileage has dropped like a rock with gas prices. Funny how it never seemed to rise nearly as fast, when it actually did.

The mileage drop marks the second time in three weeks that the company has reneged on points that were agreed upon in our most recent contract. I'm not holding my breath waiting for them to give back any of the concessions we made.

So...if there's a contract, why aren't the details of said contract being enforced?

That is an excellent question. I wish I had an answer. Bottom line is that our guild is basically defunct and a guild in name only.

 

[spnited]

So you pay dues to the guild and they do nothing for you?
I'd be bitching more about that than a wage freeze or mileage reduction.

 

[clutchcargo]

I'll take a wage freeze over a layoff any day of the week---layoffs have a penchant for freezing wages in the worst kind of way.

 

[SteveThePirate]

As far as the reduction in mileage reimbursement: Let me guess, it wasn't very good to begin with?

 

[mike311gd]

Our mileage has dropped like a rock with gas prices. Funny how it never seemed to rise nearly as fast, when it actually did.

Get used to it, kid.

 

[JakeandElwood]

Our mileage has dropped like a rock with gas prices. Funny how it never seemed to rise nearly as fast, when it actually did.

Get used to it, kid.

Oh, I know.

 

[MileHigh]

I'll take a wage freeze over a layoff any day of the week---layoffs have a penchant for freezing wages in the worst kind of way.

Yup. And even a closure.

 

[mike311gd]

Our mileage has dropped like a rock with gas prices. Funny how it never seemed to rise nearly as fast, when it actually did.

Get used to it, kid.

Oh, I know.

I remember dealing with $.27/gallon, and the gas dropped a nickel, so our rate dropped $.03. And it took four months to rise again.

 

[Fredrick]

I think wage freezes are a huge insult and distasteful. If businesses can't afford to reward employees for hard work, then close shop.

 

[RayKinsella]

I may be way off on this, but I believe this is how milage works.

You submit said milage. They pay you. At the end of the year, the company adds up everyones milage and submits that to the US Government via taxes. They get paid the milage rate (which was 51 then 58.5 for the last six months of the year).

So basically, by offering .28 cents, they are making profit on it because they are submitting 58.5 cents.

It is now 55 cents per mile. So if you were smart, you would keep all milage and if you can (not sure on this), submit your own come tax time. Make the money back you deserve.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I may be way off on this, but I believe this is how milage works.

You submit said milage. They pay you. At the end of the year, the company adds up everyones milage and submits that to the US Government via taxes. They get paid the milage rate (which was 51 then 58.5 for the last six months of the year).

So basically, by offering .28 cents, they are making profit on it because they are submitting 58.5 cents.

It is now 55 cents per mile. So if you were smart, you would keep all milage and if you can (not sure on this), submit your own come tax time. Make the money back you deserve.

Yeah, but you have to itemize to do it.

 

[I Digress]

You can also itemize the difference between what the company pays you and the rate the government plays. Just keep records.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I may be way off on this, but I believe this is how milage works.

You submit said milage. They pay you. At the end of the year, the company adds up everyones milage and submits that to the US Government via taxes. They get paid the milage rate (which was 51 then 58.5 for the last six months of the year).

So basically, by offering .28 cents, they are making profit on it because they are submitting 58.5 cents.

It is now 55 cents per mile. So if you were smart, you would keep all milage and if you can (not sure on this), submit your own come tax time. Make the money back you deserve.

That works only IF you itemize your taxes.

 

[silvercharm]

I may be way off on this, but I believe this is how milage works.

You submit said milage. They pay you. At the end of the year, the company adds up everyones milage and submits that to the US Government via taxes. They get paid the milage rate (which was 51 then 58.5 for the last six months of the year).

So basically, by offering .28 cents, they are making profit on it because they are submitting 58.5 cents.

It is now 55 cents per mile. So if you were smart, you would keep all milage and if you can (not sure on this), submit your own come tax time. Make the money back you deserve.

Still dumb. Even if you had enough deductions to write off the entire 55 cents per mile, you only receive a tax credit for your bracket. Say you're in the 28 percent bracket, you'd get back roughly 15 cents per mile. So, unless your company is reimbursing at less than that, you might as take the reimbursement. You could write off the difference, though. But unless you're driving thousands and thousands of miles, it's not worth it.

 

[Ace]

Colbert,

You don't seem to be bucking up very well!