Humiliation as a Management Tactic

These are horrible, scary times in most newsrooms, with recurring rumors of cutbacks and open speculation about the future of the business and journalism. Newsroom morale, chronically bad in most places, is even worse these days–if that's possible. Fear and loathing is at a record pitch.

So there's no excuse for management to add insult to injury by humiliating staff members. Nonetheless, there are a couple of ugly examples today of exactly that happening:

• At the Newark Star-Ledger, two newsroom veterans have been reassigned to the mailroom.
• At the Longmont, Col., Times-Call, staffers have been invited to work as parking valets at the publisher's holiday party–albeit at full pay. How generous.

And this is on the heels of the Raleigh News & Observer's silly two-slice limit on election night pizza. (Yeah, it was called off. But the morale-killing damage was already done.)

C'mon, Scrooge. These are people you're dealing with here, with feelings and egos and (formerly) loyalty to your company. They deserve better, especially in these tough times–tough times that, in large part, can be traced to your own mismanagement. Demeaning them like this is disgusting. 

Comments

[Angela Connor]

So, the publisher canceling his holiday party was not a option I suppose. You should find out if the employees are having a holiday party or if it's been canceled due to cutbacks.
Reminds me of this holiday tune: You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus, You're as charming as an eel. Mr. Grinch. You're a bad banana With a greasy black peel.
Now, this could be his personal party so it may be a moot point, but asking folks to valet? Are there no college kids available? I am truly annoyed by that. And I won't even touch the maillroom.