Comments on: Republic layoffs providing communication lesson for public companies

By: Hello world! « a little backwards

Hello world! « a little backwards — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:35:13 +0000

[...] Valley PR Blog » Blog Archive » Republic layoffs providing communication lesson for public compa… [...]

By: What’s good for Gangplank is good for Phoenix, me! «

What’s good for Gangplank is good for Phoenix, me! « — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:15:09 +0000

[...] in looking outside the Valley, I say no. It’s bleak, it’s hot, and depending on what day you pick up the newspaper, it could be disappointing. I’m just not buying the doom and [...]

By: Wendy Kenney @23Kazoos

Wendy Kenney @23Kazoos — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:36:59 +0000

In 2002 I worked in HR for a Fortune 500 in Scottsdale. The layoffs had been meticulously planned up to the script they used. Those who weren’t available to meet in person were called on the telephone. The HR Director was such a chicken #*$*& that he had me do it! It was the most horrible thing I had to do! Some people were on vacation out of the country, others were far from home at company paid conferences!

Hey we all understand the bottom line, but it’s about time that companies treat their workers with compassion and dignity. They deserve it. I’m so sad for my friends at the Republic.

By: Tyler Hurst

Tyler Hurst — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:06:09 +0000

Odd how that AZ has had thousands of layoffs, but we freak out because azcentral loses around 100 people? The entire newspaper industry is dying, people.

While I feel bad for everyone involved, this shouldn’t be a shock. If you’re still working for a newspaper, it’s time to help your company change its business model, because your industry isn’t going anywhere.

Journalism doesn’t require a newspaper, it requires an outlet.

By: Danielle Sittu, ABC

Danielle Sittu, ABC — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:33:28 +0000

First, I’d like to pass on my heart-felt condolences to those who lost their jobs. I wish you well.

Regarding this blog, I have a question that I’m wondering if anyone has an answer to. Sorry in advance for the length of the question (and the comments), but it’s something I’ve been thinking of for a while.

I’ve been away from the corporate side of the business for about 7 years, but when I was working in corporate communications for a publicly traded company, I was very much aware of not violating the SEC’s Reg FD requirement. For those of you who don’t know, Reg FD (and I’m paraphrasing) is the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation Fair Disclosure regulation which requires all public companies to mass communicate or disclose information that can potentially impact a company’s financials. The way I understood it, if news or information (positive or negative) could impact the value of a company’s stock price, it must be disclosed in such a way that is available to the masses.

While I know Twitter is a “public” way to disseminate information, is it considered enough of a fair disclosure? Or are there still too few in the “public” who use the tool for it to be considered mass communication?

Generally, my former employer would post news releases to various wire services so that the “public” could have the information all at the same time. The purpose of Reg FD was essentially to limit the potential of insider information and unfair stock trading.

Now, why am I asking this? I can’t help but wonder if legal requirements (or at least the way they are interpreted today) are preventing publicly traded companies from using and jumping on the social media bandwagon. Does anyone have experience with this? What do your legal departments say?

Finally, I don’t think it’s wise to ever post news of a layoff publicly before impacted employees know about it. In the best scenario, I think it happens simultaneous to the public announcement. At least in my experience, that’s how we stayed in compliance with Reg FD and in trying to do what was right by employees.

In any event, layoffs suck, and I’m sorry to hear about all of this sad news.

By: Skye Callan

Skye Callan — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:44:07 +0000

Great post! I definitely agree with your point – “try to control the message before it controls you.” The difficulty in doing this though is along the lines of what Matthew mentioned: employees shouldn’t find out about the layoffs via social media outlets. So, a well thought out plan should be implemented to alert employees while managing the social media realm as well.

By: Nunya

Nunya — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:15:48 +0000

I love journalism because we understand that you can’t control the news. You can only report it. We let you all worry about perception, even when the news hits us directly.
So let’s stop worrying controlling some fabricated message and worry more about getting this thing turned around.

By: Matthew Dutile

Matthew Dutile — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:55:18 +0000

Bottom line is, laying off is going to suck, no matter how it’s done. And it’s always going to be looked at as impersonal, well because it sucks.

I don’t agree that Gannett should have been on Twitter talking about it before. Or sending out memos before it was sent to the employees. Then we’d be raving about how employees found out about getting a layoff through Twitter. What kind of impersonal way to do it is that?

Best wishes to everyone who lost their job last night. I’m confident they will land on their feet and end up in great places.

By: Pat Elliott

Pat Elliott — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:41:10 +0000

First, my condolences to everyone impacted by the latest Gannett cutbacks. I encourage you to get involved with the Phoenix SPJ Chapter whose members have been very supportive in rebuilding lives and careers.

Social media is a blessing for the laid-off and puts more power where it needs to be – in the hands of the affected employees. When the Motorola Healthcare Division in Tempe was sold 10 years ago the only public information was the corporate spin in the press release aimed at shareholders. Local media didn’t dig or cover the human aspect of the story. We were the only division here reporting directly to corporate in Chicago. The result was that no other Motorola division in the Valley even knew that the acquiring company did not acquire all of the employees. Connecting with others took research, time, telephone calls, etc and made a bad situation much worse. Even if corporations continue to behave badly I’m glad that those impacted by their decisions are able to take more control of their futures today and move on. Life is much too short.

By: anon

anon — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:28:13 +0000

the phone calls at home were better than when they had us come into work and sit by our phones and wait for the “call”. that was the republic in the 90s. very traumatic. people crying in clusters. standing up and wailing out loud. grown men/editors sobbing in front of everyone. poor sal caputo threw his coffee mug across the room and it hit a pillar instead of someone’s head. layoffs suck. i don’t think there is any one way to handle it. hope those who got the ax last night go on to good things.