What If My Position Is Eliminated?

Warning: Mr. Sunbeam has no direct information on this subject. What follows is either a restatement of history or pointing out the obvious.

It is a given that some positions are going to be eliminated because of reductions in space, reconfiguration of sections and the loss of 40 staff members through buyouts or layoffs.

In the past, management has told the staff that those people who remain would have jobs but not necessarily the same job. It is also true that in the past some jobs that became vacant because of buyouts/layoffs were posted to be filled by someone else. Management has not been specific about its plans this time, but hints are that the past may apply to the future.

Management will have to review who departs (voluntarily or otherwise) and decide which positions remain or disappear. Management - and HR - will also decide whether to move remaining staff from one position to another with or without an application process.

Bottom line: Chances are good that there will be a job at the DMN for everyone who remains after the buyout/layoff. How much say remaining staff members have in the nature of their job remains to be seen. And it could be several weeks, at least, before the situation is settled.

One further moment from recent history: In the aftermath of the CueCat's demise, newsroom people who worked on that project found they were employees of Belo Interactive, not the DMN. When their CueCat positions were eliminated, they had to apply for other jobs within Belo. If you are in that position now - not working for The DMN proper but wanting to find a spot at The DMN - you may have no choice but to apply for positions that become open at the newspaper. And you may find yourself competing with people who already work for the DMN.