I got laid off from my paper...

[stix]

Via voicemail.

Worked at this paper for four-plus years, and a couple weeks ago I was notified of my layoff by voice message. As for the other lay-offs, they were herded into the breakroom and given the news in a matter of seconds.

Just a despicable way to handle things.

I sent a very lengthy email to the editor-in-chief, the managing editor, the publisher and the president of the company detailing how unprofessional their actions were and how offended I was to be stripped of my dignity that way. Their excuse was that they couldn't find my cell phone number until after the other lay-offs were notified. I'm in contact with my SE on a daily basis. Pretty sure they could've gotten it from him.

To this day (my last day is tomorrow), I haven't met with anyone face-to-face, except for HR to inform me of my benefits/severance. What a joke.

Oh, well. I've been doing lots of freelancing gigs, with a lot more lined up. Good thing I have some decent connections. I'll probably do some bartending to make a more staple income and work a couple days a week in a warehouse for a guy I know. Then I'm considering law school, after I get married next August.

Sucks to be laid-off, but I'll deal with it and move on. But the way it was handled with me was hurtful and unacceptable. Hope it never happens to any of you guys.

 

[thegrifter]

That's horse****, Stix. Just goes to show the level of class we're dealing with.
Good luck.

 

[Angola!]

What newspaper?

 

[slappy4428]

If you ever want to out the paper, feel free. we're good at piling on...
Sorry about the loss; I know if sucks.

 

[stix]

What newspaper?

Sorry, I'd rather not say. Maybe after a little time goes by, but not at the moment. It's a guild editorial staff (whether guilds are actually helpful or not, that's a whole other matter), so I was laid off basically because of lack of seniority, and the guild president is going back-and-forth with upper management on buyout offers. Of course, upper management has probably rejected even the most reasonable and management-favored buyout offers.

Anyways, there's a chance I could come off the layoff list if there's a couple buyouts. But considering I just ripped upper management in this thread (deservedly so), I don't exactly want to burn any bridges.

Not sure anyone in upper management glances at this message board (probably not) but you never know. Anyways, the lack of class they showed to me is probably turning into the norm, not the exception, in this industry.

 

[Hammer Pants]

That really sucks. I hope Karma ultimately corrects this situation on your end and theirs.

 

[stix]

That really sucks. I hope Karma ultimately corrects this situation on your end and theirs.

Oh, it will. I have no doubts about that. I don't believe in a lot of "supernatural" stuff or anything like that, but I do believe that when you choose to **** on other people in life, you'd better get ready to get **** on yourself.

Besides, like most other papers in this situation, these lay-offs are only short-term solutions. Upper management is too incompetent and lazy (a nice combination of both) to actually think of ways to improve the paper (no, "hyper-local" content doesn't count), so it will probably all got to hell anyways.

This won't be the first round of lay-offs. If anything, getting laid off gave me the kick in the ass I needed to explore other options. I will continue to freelance, because I love sportswriting, but perhaps a better "core career" lies elsewhere.

 

[stix]

In fact, we have a new section titled "MORE." That's, right. "MORE." That's the ****ing name of the section.

It's all the tidbits of little garbage (national briefs, entertainment news, crossword puzzles, political columns, you name it) that they can't cram into the increasingly shrinking newshole of the rest of the paper.

"MORE."

Another brilliant and inspiring idea from upper management.

 

[slappy4428]

What newspaper?

Sorry, I'd rather not say. Maybe after a little time goes by, but not at the moment. It's a guild editorial staff (whether guilds are actually helpful or not, that's a whole other matter), so I was laid off basically because of lack of seniority, and the guild president is going back-and-forth with upper management on buyout offers. Of course, upper management has probably rejected even the most reasonable and management-favored buyout offers.

Anyways, there's a chance I could come off the layoff list if there's a couple buyouts. But considering I just ripped upper management in this thread (deservedly so), I don't exactly want to burn any bridges.

Not sure anyone in upper management glances at this message board (probably not) but you never know. Anyways, the lack of class they showed to me is probably turning into the norm, not the exception, in this industry.

Just whisper it. We won't tell...

 

[SlickWillie71]

I feel your pain, Stix.

Two years ago on May 15, I got fired as sports editor in the same manner: a 90-second voicemail left on my cell phone. When I went to go get my stuff from my desk the next day, I was forced to wait in the hall for 10 minutes, then was told I had five minutes to pick up my stuff and leave. This from a paper in which I busted my ass for two years. What made it worse was that it happened less than a week before I was supposed to move into a new apartment.

I haven't spoken to the ME who pulled the trigger and have no plans to. I don't wish him ill will, but can't respect him. In hindsight, I should have taken it as a sign and left the business altogether, but had to give it one last stab at the field. When the time comes this go-round, there won't be a return.

 

[FuturaBold]

I just don't understand how anyone could treat someone like that ... how do folks like that sleep at night or look themselves in the mirror with any respect for themselves... sorry stix, you deserve better -- and you got it by not being a part of that company any more...

 

[stix]

I feel your pain, Stix.

Two years ago on May 15, I got fired as sports editor in the same manner: a 90-second voicemail left on my cell phone. When I went to go get my stuff from my desk the next day, I was forced to wait in the hall for 10 minutes, then was told I had five minutes to pick up my stuff and leave. This from a paper in which I busted my ass for two years. What made it worse was that it happened less than a week before I was supposed to move into a new apartment.

I haven't spoken to the ME who pulled the trigger and have no plans to. I don't wish him ill will, but can't respect him. In hindsight, I should have taken it as a sign and left the business altogether, but had to give it one last stab at the field. When the time comes this go-round, there won't be a return.

Man, that's even worse than the **** I got.

I feel the same way about my superiors. I don't wish them ill will and I'm not going to key anybody's car or anything, but I really have no interest in speaking with them. I fired off my email, said what I wanted to say, and that's that.

That being said, I have NO respect for any of them. None. I still have a great relationship with my SE, who was furious this was handled the way it was, but he had no control over it, of course. The upper management at my paper pretty much has zero respect from any of its employees. They're drowning and keeping their heads above water by pushing other people under. That can't go on forever, and I'm sure they know it.

 

[stix]

I just don't understand how anyone could treat someone like that ... how do folks like that sleep at night or look themselves in the mirror with any respect for themselves... sorry stix, you deserve better -- and you got it by not being a part of that company any more...

Very true.

I was mad at first, but the way things were going, this was inevitable. I was one of the unfortunate ones to get the gas, but working for this company sucks, and a lot of co-workers feel that way, too.

I guess I got the kick in the ass I needed to pursue other things. Have to look at it that way.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

I wouldn't key a car but I'd think long and hard about leaving a **** puck under somebody's desk.

When you get something taken away from you, then you usually get something else in return.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

Special place in Hell, Stix. Special place in Hell. I wish I could tell you this was an isolated occurrence, but other posts on the thread already show it isn't. I can almost guarantee you'll be treated better as a bartender than as a sportswriter, both by your customers and your employer.

 

[SixToe]

You guys sure are compassionate.

I wouldn't wish anything terminal, but there are a few people I wouldn't mind seeing do battle with a plague, locusts or itchy boils on their skin for a week or so.

 

[hondo]

What newspaper?

Sorry, I'd rather not say. Maybe after a little time goes by, but not at the moment. It's a guild editorial staff (whether guilds are actually helpful or not, that's a whole other matter), so I was laid off basically because of lack of seniority, and the guild president is going back-and-forth with upper management on buyout offers. Of course, upper management has probably rejected even the most reasonable and management-favored buyout offers.

Anyways, there's a chance I could come off the layoff list if there's a couple buyouts. But considering I just ripped upper management in this thread (deservedly so), I don't exactly want to burn any bridges.

Not sure anyone in upper management glances at this message board (probably not) but you never know. Anyways, the lack of class they showed to me is probably turning into the norm, not the exception, in this industry.

If you're gone, what's the problem with naming the paper?

 

[playthrough]

My condolences, Stix.

Classless firings aren't limited to our world, though. I talked to an athlete a couple months ago who lost his job via e-mail message. It's pathetic, all these devices we have to communicate these days yet more and more people are truly terrible communicators.

 

[stix]

What newspaper?

Sorry, I'd rather not say. Maybe after a little time goes by, but not at the moment. It's a guild editorial staff (whether guilds are actually helpful or not, that's a whole other matter), so I was laid off basically because of lack of seniority, and the guild president is going back-and-forth with upper management on buyout offers. Of course, upper management has probably rejected even the most reasonable and management-favored buyout offers.

Anyways, there's a chance I could come off the layoff list if there's a couple buyouts. But considering I just ripped upper management in this thread (deservedly so), I don't exactly want to burn any bridges.

Not sure anyone in upper management glances at this message board (probably not) but you never know. Anyways, the lack of class they showed to me is probably turning into the norm, not the exception, in this industry.

If you're gone, what's the problem with naming the paper?

Cause there's a chance I could be hired back if certain buyouts are accepted. A slim chance, but a chance nonetheless.

Not sure if I would even want to come back, but I'd just prefer to leave the name of my paper undisclosed for now.

Plus, there are a lot of great people here. As the situation unfolds, I'll probably see fit to name the paper. If it helps, it's a mid-sized daily (about 25,000) in a fairly metropolitan area between two large cities.

 

[clutchcargo]

Best wishes to you, Stix. There will probably be others from your shop (and dozens of others at any given time) following in your footsteps, so look at it this way---you get a headstart on them on the job market.

Do well, stay focused, but also enjoy life a bit more.