Posted by chip egan on January 22, 2009 at 10:26:55:
In Reply to: Clear Channel silent as O'Dell ousted posted by chicagomedia.org on January 21, 2009 at 07:23:25:
After reading about Rick O'Dell's release and the handling of it by the powers that be with CC, I couldn't help but think back to what happened when myself and co-workers were laid-off by AT&T when we worked in local programming.
Those of us who worked in the local programming department of AT&T's outlets in the Chicagoland area-including Merriville, IN-were called into a meeting at the main offices in Oak Brook. I wouldn't say we were in the offices because we weren't. We were all brought to the utility room where folding chairs were set up. We were each given a folder and told to sit down.
A representative of AT&T who rivaled the host of "The Weakest Link" addressed us about the status of our employment. We were told that the company was going to go in another direction with local programming and that we could either reapply for positions that were yet to be determined or we could take a severence package. She said that she did not know what the company planned on doing with the department, but that we probably would not be brought back doing the same job we had nor would we make the same salary we did before.
During the whole process she did nothing in the way of trying to make us feel comfortable about the news and then told us that we were not allowed to go to the press regarding the situation. Sadly, the local news program I worked on had been on in Lake County for 20 years and people enjoyed it. The same could be said for the news program that was done in Merriville which was very well received.
At no time during this meeting was there any attempt made to soften the blow by the company rep. If nothing else, I would have expected her to say something to the effect that the company appreciated the effort given and that they would welcome anyone who wanted to interview for the positions when they came available. Instead, we were talked down to and given directives as to what was expected of us before the layoff took effect.
No one that I worked with in Lake County reapplied for a job based on the treatment shown to us. The thought was why would we want to work for a company who could care less about your value as an employee. When we returned to work that day, my boss called and asked if I was going to reapply for a position. I told him my answer was no and when he asked why I said that I wasn't about to work for a company who would not even extend the slightest amount of sympathy to people who worked hard for them but were told they wouldn't have a job anymore. His response was, "well, that's business." To which I replied that it wasn't a business I wanted to work for.
The following day, the local paper in Merriville had the story about AT&T's announcement to us. It came from one of the anchors on their newscast who was as frustrated as we were when they had no answers for us about the future or direction of the deparment. Word got out about local programming and before you knew it, local papers were trying to find out what was going on. A story appeared in the Waukegan News Sun about our "Lake County Live" newscast being removed and the local paper in Elgin tried to find out about the loss of "The Elgin Week in Review."
Just prior to our last broadcast we were told to not say anything about the program going off the air. There was no chance to say good bye for a program that was on the air for 20 years. Due to the bad press that was coming out about local programming, the company tried to find ways to soften the blow by trying to air condensed versions of the news, but that lasted less than a week. Following the last show everyone got their stuff and left without any problems.
On the plus side, we were at least given notice that change was coming. In fact, we had 30 days notice. Still, the way we were treated during the meeting to tell us of the change set just about everyone off to the point that only several people reapplied for positions and during their interviews they decided to just take their severence packages.
There is a humane or "right" way to do things and a wrong way. To treat people with such disrespect upon their dismissal--unless they really did something that warranted their firing--is uncalled for. CC treated Rick O'Dell with contempt instead of respect. I know that things have been done in the past by disgruntled employees that would cause a problem for the company. But I also think it shows a lack of "knowing your employees" when they get treated the way they do. I highly doubt O'Dell would pull some stunt that would necessitate police involvement upon his termination. To dismiss him in the manner they did is reprehensible and classless.
As I read the stories of how CC handled letting employees know of their termination I couldn't help but think that administrators truly don't get it when it comes to wondering why employees aren't "loyal". I've always said that I, myself, am a corporation and, as such, I have to look out for my best interests just like the company does. I don't have loyalty to a company, but what I do have is pride in my work and a work ethic that will ensure the best effort possible to help achieve certain objectives.
After seeing how this whole CC mess went down, I wonder if people in the business will do things based more on their own best interests and not those of the company.