The Washington Post publisher’s bungled layoff alert brings to mind a lesson I learned firsthand after instigating a successful union drive at Newsday a half-century ago: Management is often its own worst enemy. As awful as a layoff is for those losing jobs, the way it is (mis)handled can convulse an entire workforce with rage and but-for-the-grace-of-god-goest-I fear.
My favorite example comes from academe. Years ago a new president decided Middlebury College needed to bid farewell to some administrative employees. A board member volunteered the services of a corporate consultant to stage the rollout. Late one afternoon those earmarked for elimination looked up to see a security officer. They were taken to the far reaches of the campus to hear the bad news and were not allowed to return to their desks. Instead their belongings were packed up for them The idea, I guess, was to make sure nobody committed an act of sabotage on the way out the door. An institution that treasured transparency and collegiality was aghast. The president was gone less than a year after his arrival.
Super happy with how Chicago's WBEZ Sun-Times merger went off. As a Sun-Times digital subscriber and public radio (sorry, MEDIA) supporter, I just kept my subs in place. Now they're donations.
Great roundup! Interesting to consider implications of WaPo's subscriber decline... national pubs were enjoying subscriber boom times for a number of years... if that levels off, they'll either need another growth engine, or they'll need to focus more on sustainability than growth.
The Washington Post publisher’s bungled layoff alert brings to mind a lesson I learned firsthand after instigating a successful union drive at Newsday a half-century ago: Management is often its own worst enemy. As awful as a layoff is for those losing jobs, the way it is (mis)handled can convulse an entire workforce with rage and but-for-the-grace-of-god-goest-I fear.
My favorite example comes from academe. Years ago a new president decided Middlebury College needed to bid farewell to some administrative employees. A board member volunteered the services of a corporate consultant to stage the rollout. Late one afternoon those earmarked for elimination looked up to see a security officer. They were taken to the far reaches of the campus to hear the bad news and were not allowed to return to their desks. Instead their belongings were packed up for them The idea, I guess, was to make sure nobody committed an act of sabotage on the way out the door. An institution that treasured transparency and collegiality was aghast. The president was gone less than a year after his arrival.
Dick, congratulations on this year’s stellar work. Looking forward to more in 2023.
Super happy with how Chicago's WBEZ Sun-Times merger went off. As a Sun-Times digital subscriber and public radio (sorry, MEDIA) supporter, I just kept my subs in place. Now they're donations.
I noticed the timing on Sinema immediately. I do wonder about an advance handshake between her and Schumer.
Great roundup! Interesting to consider implications of WaPo's subscriber decline... national pubs were enjoying subscriber boom times for a number of years... if that levels off, they'll either need another growth engine, or they'll need to focus more on sustainability than growth.