Furloughs set for Springfield News-Leader, Gannett in 2010

Company-wide furloughs for the Springfield News-Leader and other Gannett newspapers have been announced for the first quarter of 2010. From the memo sent to Gannett employees by Bob Dickey, head of Gannett's Community Publishing Division:

We are instituting the furloughs during the first quarter because it is traditionally the lightest time of the year for us. Non-union USCP employees, including me, will be furloughed for five business days during the quarter. We will be communicating separately with union representatives and asking for their support of the furloughs. However, those union-represented employees who recently negotiated pay reductions in their contracts will not be furloughed.

Exempt, salaried employees must take one full payroll week within the pay period, to be completed by Sunday, March 28. Non-exempt, hourly employees will also take five days at any pre-approved time, before the last weekend in March.