Jan

30

When contemplating layoffs, don’t take off for San Diego — Especially when it’s 14 degrees in Chicago

Posted by Dan

January 30, 2009 |

Not to be overly surly, and I do appreciate the fact that I still have a job — jobs, actually, if you count all my freelance writing — but sometimes the bosses at my main publishing job make me wish I wasn’t some 25 years or so from retirement.

Here’s what has me vexed: Last week, my immediate boss told me that he was going to have to fire some writers if ad sales at our magazines didn’t pick up. I’m the most senior writer at our company, and he wanted to lay out his plans to me before he took any action.

I asked him if he considered laying off any of the salespeople, you know, the people who aren’t selling the ads, the people who have actually made it so that our profits are disappearing. He said it’s the market’s fault, not the salesmen’s fault. What he didn’t say was this: Our salesmen are paid on commission. If they don’t sell any ads, they’re not costing our company any money. Our writers, of course, are paid on salary. Cutting them does save money. This doesn’t seem fair, but what can you do?

This week, I came into the office to do some editing of our latest magazine — I only come into the office one day a week, thankfully — when I learned that my boss had flown off to San Diego for a conference.

Hmmm…. I’m sure it’s not 14 degrees in California, like it is here in Chicago today. I’m also sure that my boss’ trip to San Diego wasn’t free. In a time of extreme cost-cutting at our company, this seems like a bit of an unnecessary trip, especially since these conferences never, ever result in any new business.

Oh, well … consider it a great example of how to lower already low morale.


Comments

2 Comments so far

  1. Sarah R on January 30, 2009 11:42 pm

    I’ve tried to be so thankful I actually have a job, but hearing about all of those who don’t, and then all of those who have FANTASTIC jobs just gets to me.

    Ugh!

  2. Dan on January 31, 2009 5:28 pm

    Hi, Sarah:

    I understand. I think part of the reason I’m not more grateful for the jobs I do have is that I really don’t like working, at least not for anyone else!

    Dan
    http://community.enormo.com/blog
    http://www.crackinsurance.com

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