Gannett is a very large media company that publishes USA Today and a host of mostly small to medium newspapers around the country.
It has made a ton of money over the years and intends to continue making a ton of money, even if it means screwing every single one of its employees multiple times.
You see, Gannett has been caught in the downturn of advertising spending, just like every other newspaper in America. Gannett's response has been massive layoffs and forced furloughs -- not once or twice, but multiple times -- all in the interest of padding quarterly profits and being able to pay out fat bonuses to executives.
Well, Frank DiLeo, sports editor at the Daily Record in Parsippany, N.J., finally had enough.
DiLeo was notified that he is being laid off for the second time in two years. So he penned a column that vented his frustrations and actually made it into print (although not online). It is reprinted on the independent Gannett blog. I highly recommend reading the entire column.
He recalls the various awards and honors he has received over his 12 years with Gannett and asks himself the question that hundreds of thousands who have worked hard only to be shown the door have asked -- Is this how I'm repaid for years of excellence and loyalty?
Those of you who know me well know that I don't put much stock in emotion. But I can't help but to feel like a rube on the midway for thinking that someone as young, talented and loyal as I was would be able to stick with a company after proving time and time again that there was nothing I couldn't or wouldn't do for the good of the corporation.
I've worked through pneumonia many times, bronchitis, pleurisy, broken ribs, migraines, a gallbladder that stopped functioning for six months and many other ailments that I ignored doctors orders to stay home. All for the good of the company. This is where it got me.
It is a story that could be retold at any number of companies.
The question that really seems to nag at DiLeo is -- Why?
My guess is that we're all victims of corporate greed, just like millions of folks out there going through the same thing.
Things like truth, honor, work ethic and integrity mean nothing on an Excel spreadsheet. It's all about profit margins.
Gannett is not alone in this new world order of treating customers like an annoyance and employees like dogs who should be happy with whatever scraps are leftover.
But the answer isn't all that hard to figure out:
Many talented, innovative, caring people were let go today. Meanwhile, the empty suits at corporate collect six and seven-figure salaries while accepting massive bonuses.