It probably ranks as a small and insignificant insult in the grand scheme of things — and perhaps is a sign of our deteriorating times — but it bothers me that this recent batch of layoff victims have had to leave the building with so little in the way of an official farewell.
Just to recount the decline of Dismissal With Dignity at the Courant:
There was a time when departing retirees / buyout volunteers got parties in the Thomas Green room, cakes, gifts, special commemorative pages and a little ceremony. I’m recalling some elaborate retirement ceremonies for staffers like Gerry Renner, Bob LaMagdeleine, Vic Kodas and others.
Slowly, the ceremony became less personal and elaborate. For a while there was a kind of assembly line process where departure parties were held for waves of workers. Then there was a quick cake and coffee in the newsroom. A few kind words and handshakes.
Now you are lucky to get out with a show of support from your immediate co-workers.
It strikes me as one symptom of The Courant’s institutional loss of its familial culture. It’s perhaps analagous to the former prosperous family that loses its home and is now living out of its car. There’s no budget for dignity, and no heart for it.
I know it’s just business, and folks shouldn’t expect more from their company these days. But I have to ask: how can a company survive hard times and prosper if it can’t maintain the sense of value and belonging among its employees?
In fairness, the Courant provides a now-modest severence package and arranges for job counseling at considerable expense. It’s more than some companies do, or can afford to do. But a company also builds loyalty in symbolic ways. There is value in the public demonstration of caring for those who must leave. Sadly, there is less of that at the Courant every day.
Loading ...
Really great sentiments, Paul, but as many have noticed it is no longer reporters and editors who are departing the Courant — it’s The Courant that’s departing the community the paper served for so long. I was glad when the parties after our wave of layoffs/buyouts in July stopped being called “farewell” parties and became more “Well, that’s gone — what’s next?” parties. It seemed more in tune with reality.
Everyone,
Just an important update. There was misinformation the first day and Michael McAndrews was NOT laid off. It was a bad rumor. Pass it on….
I would imagine the Warner Awards are toast, too. There does not seem to be much justification for the expense, considering the fiscal situation. Nor is there the heart or time available to put on a show from the remaining saddened, harried and overworked survivors-so-far.
And the irony of seeing many awards going to staffers who were laid off or bought off — and I am sure that would be the case — would be bitter. And have you noticed the cafeteria will no longer be in operation for dinner? Not good news for nightside. Iim thinking the caf’s days are numbered, too.
Hi,
A very real extension of that very worthy thought is that farewell ceremonies also serve to inspire those who are still there. They tell those going back afterward to their work stations that service and friendship are respected, that what you do there means something, that what they do there means something.
The layoffs, this round and all those before, demonstrate just the opposite. Steve’s point is exactly right. An much as they are said to be inevitable, what they offer is the truth: No matter what you have done, no matter what awards you have won, no matter your loyalty or professionalism — it stands for nothing. You can be a prime figure in the eyes of the readers and other customers but if there is a boss and she or he takes the cold eye to you, all else is meaningless.
Surely it would be an awkward session to express even mock regrets at the leaving of someone you have driven away. All in the audience would know the hypocrisy. But honor them they should. All these wonderful folks gave so much, and remain an inspiration to those still giving.
I’m having a little trouble posting here but let’s see if this takes this time. To all my Courant colleagues shown the proverbial door, what a sad day in the history of a paper which is the longest continuing published newspaper in the country. All that talent and experience walking out the door. And the news is worse around the country, with the closing of the Rocking Mountain News, and the blizzard of dailies filing for bankruptcy. To those of you newly unemployed, there is help now…The Obama stimulus package includes subsidies to pay COBRA to retain health insurance (now laid off workers only have to pay 35 percent of the cost of COBRA). In addition the package included extending unemployment benefits and the foreclosure relief package includes some help for lowing mortgage costs. The state also has an emergency mortgage assistance program. How do I know all this, my husband, also a journalist, lost his job this fall. Trust me, I understand the shock…There is life after newspapers, though, there’s freelancing and teaching as adjunct or visiting professors…It’s not easy and the market is flooded, but have hope…
I think we all have to get creative though, there will always be journalism, it’s just taking on a new form, I tell my journalism students…Who says the Courant has to be the only game in town anymore? Hartford residents deserve coverage, think Digitally!
Fran
Hi
Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Courant has treated its people this way. I quit the Courant in 1986 – during the Times-Mirror “Spiked” period, when heavy newsroom turnover was still fairly novel. During my exit interview with the HR person I noted in passing that management hadn’t acknowledged my 12 years at the paper. I got a call at home that night from the Metro Desk’s hatchet person of the moment, asking me if I’d like some sort of announcement or ceremony. I told him it was too late, and that was that. It’s unforgivable that the current administration didn’t do anything to acknowledge Mark, Steve, or the rest, though.
About COBRA, I would be delighted if I turn out to be wrong on this (and, please, if I am, somebody set me straight), but my impression is that the subsidy applies only to people who lost their jobs on or after Sept. 1. Which means those of us given the heave-ho during the summer of 2008 are in a real bad position. (I’ve written to John Larson’s office to ask for clarification, but I have not yet gotten a response.) Can anyone help clear this up for me?
I would not attend a Courant-sponsored event to mark the depature of laid-off or bought-out employees. I never did when I was there, and I certainly wouldn’t now, as the firings are devastating the paper. To join hands with management at such an event — and that’s what it amounts to — would make me puke. If we want to pay tribute to the people leaving, we should do it outside the building and make it clear management is not welcome.
Stopped by what was left of the Courant’s Washington Bureau Friday to say goodbye to Jesse and wallow in the past….which probably wasn’t a good idea….like revisiting the neighborhood where you grew up 50 years later (don’t do it).
Alas, the scene was akin to a scene from a bad movie. All the artifacts were there…a Ct. Manual autographed by Ella Grasso to Bob Waters, Bill Stall’s books on Mondale and Tip O’Neill and a couple shelfs full of my old notebooks. So much was creepy and sad….the virtually abandoned Tribune newsroom surrounding the Courant office, the Xeroxes of the Trib and LA Times (they don’t deliver the paper to the bureau anymore, just xerox a daily fax) and of course Jesse, a good guy who just moved down here a year ago, was virtually the only independent voice watching the delegation down here, and now suddenly is seeking work in a town overstuffed with out-of-work journalists with terrific resumes. Then there’s the notion that the country’s oldest continuously published daily, or whatever it is, has no more DC presence. Sob.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/business/media/02doonesbury.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA
Published: March 1, 2009
Some mistakes are so harmless that nobody is going to insist on noting or fixing them. But The Washington Post decided last week that when your ability to poke fun at yourself is in question, it’s best to say a public “oops” and correct the error.
The comic strip Doonesbury, by Garry Trudeau, follows a single story line through each week, and last week’s was a rerun of a series from 2008 about buyouts at The Post — a potentially sore subject in a newsroom that eliminated more than 100 jobs that way last year. The series of strips had the character Rick Redfern, a reporter, being forced out after 33 years with the newspaper.