How does the buyout/layoff affect employees who work for the DMN by virtue of having received an H-1b work visa? For some staffers, this is at the top of their gotta-know list. Generally speaking, if you are in the U.S. on such a visa, your status is tied to your employer, who applied for the visa on your behalf. If there is a change in your employment, it could definitely affect your ability to remain in the U.S.
Mr. Sunbeam is no immigration law specialist, but such experts do exist. Those who need to know might think about contacting an immigration lawyer. There are also groups like the American Immigration Lawyers Association in Washington, which can perhaps provide assistance. Their website is www.ailalawyer.com.
Then there is the old fallback of contacting the consulate or embassy of your home country.
Here is a U.S. government site that includes materials on visa issues:
www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
What is COBRA?
COBRA is an acronym for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, a 1986 law passed by Congress to provide continued health insurance coverage for people who find themselves without coverage through their workplace. Anyone who takes the DMN buyout without having another job to go to immediately qualifies for COBRA. The company is going to compensate each buyout-taker for up to six months of COBRA as part of your package (less taxes).
Here is a link to the U.S. Department of Labor that will describe COBRA more in depth:
www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.HTMl
Here is a link to the U.S. Department of Labor that will describe COBRA more in depth:
www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.HTMl
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Newsroom of the Future
What will the newsroom look like after the buyout? With so many unknowns, how can one make an educated guess about where he or she might stand after the dust settles?
Here are a few of the knowns:
1) The news staff is going to shrink. The number being cited is about 40 staffers will be gone.
2) Some sections - particularly those produced by the feature/arts/lifestyles departments - are going to be dropped or combined. The Lifestyles copy desk will be merged into the Universal Desk. Two Metro zoned editions will go away and the remainder will be published less often.
3) There is going to be a reduction in news space - up to 25 percent for some sections. Less space means less need for graphics and photographs, the bosses say.
4) The current ratio of reporters to editors is about half the size what management wants to see. If previous layoffs/buyouts are an indication, that ratio could shrink even smaller after the current buyouts. Some editors are likely be asked to assume new duties.
5) Quick will be published weekly rather than five days per week.
6) Al Dia is expanding its circulation three-fold.
7) Briefing, which publishes five days a week, is set to launch in late August. While it has a temporary editing staff, who stays on permanently has yet to be determined.
Make no mistake, every staffer will be affected by what's to come. Among the questions for each of us are how much is our job likely to change, and how willing are we to accept that change?
Here are a few of the knowns:
1) The news staff is going to shrink. The number being cited is about 40 staffers will be gone.
2) Some sections - particularly those produced by the feature/arts/lifestyles departments - are going to be dropped or combined. The Lifestyles copy desk will be merged into the Universal Desk. Two Metro zoned editions will go away and the remainder will be published less often.
3) There is going to be a reduction in news space - up to 25 percent for some sections. Less space means less need for graphics and photographs, the bosses say.
4) The current ratio of reporters to editors is about half the size what management wants to see. If previous layoffs/buyouts are an indication, that ratio could shrink even smaller after the current buyouts. Some editors are likely be asked to assume new duties.
5) Quick will be published weekly rather than five days per week.
6) Al Dia is expanding its circulation three-fold.
7) Briefing, which publishes five days a week, is set to launch in late August. While it has a temporary editing staff, who stays on permanently has yet to be determined.
Make no mistake, every staffer will be affected by what's to come. Among the questions for each of us are how much is our job likely to change, and how willing are we to accept that change?
Saturday, August 2, 2008
JUST TO BE CLEAR
It is neither Mr. Sunbeam's place nor intention to tell anyone what course to take regarding the buyout. This is a highly personal decision. The aim of this blog is to provide relevant information to help people make the choice they believe is right for them. The goal is to empower, not demoralize. No matter what, there is a lot of life left to be lived - even prosperously so.
Compensation for Unused Vacation Time
The company has stated it will compensate anyone who receives the buyout for any unused vacation time. This, too, is taxable. The IRS has been known to look at unused vacation pay as supplemental income, which is taxed at a higher rate than straight compensation. Even if the company withholds 25 percent, there could be an additional tax bill.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Other Writings on Buyouts and Journalism
What follows are links to a couple of articles written for the Poynter website in 2008 and 2006 by the inappropriately named Joe Grimm, recruiting guru for the Detroit Free Press. There is also a link to information supplied by financial advisors for Carter Financial Services and a summary of remarks on surviving buyouts/layoffs made to the Fort Worth chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists by a couple of former DMN staff members. Mr. Sunbeam wishes to thank ex-DMNer Gayle Reaves for her help.
FROM JOE GRIMM:
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=77&aid=139178
http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=110636
PROMO OF CARTER FINANCIAL SERVICES APPEARANCE:
http://www.jenster.com/dmnbuyoutsession.htm
FROM SPJ SEMINAR:
http://www.jenster.com/layoffreport08.htm
http://www.jenster.com/layofftips08.htm
FROM JOE GRIMM:
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=77&aid=139178
http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=110636
PROMO OF CARTER FINANCIAL SERVICES APPEARANCE:
http://www.jenster.com/dmnbuyoutsession.htm
FROM SPJ SEMINAR:
http://www.jenster.com/layoffreport08.htm
http://www.jenster.com/layofftips08.htm
Your Help Is Solicited
Mr. Sunbeam could use your assistance. Since he does not have a monopoly on ideas for relevant discussion topics, he would like to gather some. If you have a suggestion for something related to the buyout you would like to know more about, please send an email to mr.sunbeam@gmail.com Mr. Sunbeam will do his best to comply with those things are within his ability to address. Thanks.
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