The perfect storm Feb. 18, 2012

 


The owner called it “The perfect storm” quoting some TV commentator from a few years ago – referring then to a series of storms that led up to a major disaster.

 In this case, she meant her ill health and a pregnancy that would shortly put the editor out on maternity leave.

She told us she had breast cancer and would need to undergo surgery,

As if adding to a bad situation, Fran -- our jack of all trades person on the first floor – would not be coming in.

Last week she had to be rushed to emergency room after suffering a collapsed lung. She was having a relapse because she had turned to work too soon, and even while in the hospital had been doing work.

Our editor in chief, who was pregnant again, told the owner she would not work “like a mule” risking the loss of the baby, just because the owner wanted to her to produce more.

Lynette, our receptionist, is waiting to have her Gaul Blatter removed, and said she can’t wait forever to have it done, and so she will be out as well.

This meeting when most of this announced came after I had confronted Kay, one of the editors, that some of us would not put up with furloughs in order to pay for the funding of a planned new magazine.

Kay is a notorious snitch and promptly ran back to the owner to report my comments, and so may have caused the owner to make her announcement when she did, hoping perhaps to elicit sympathy.

This news was too much for one of our reporters who fled to a lesser paying, but more prestigious online publication where he doesn’t have to put up with greedy owners and a psychotic boss (who won’t be less so when she gets back from maternity leave) and can get recognition for his hard work

We are in a financial crisis and some on the staff believe we may not survive until the end of the year.  It scares me to think they may be right.

 

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