Letters have started landing in the mailboxes of former Scranton Times-Tribune staffers -- letters from the federal government inquiring about how the newspaper handled overtime. At least two former reporters have received letters, we're told. More as it happens.
21 comments:
I think all of the present and former employees who were browbeat into working extra hours will be stand-up guys and not turn state's evidence.
Of course, I also don't believe all those names in the steroids report.
This is breaking? This has been known about for weeks. Same thing on Roja. She was hired a month ago. Man this site is slow on news.
Is there some kind of hotline to call? Not that as an ex-employee who was perp-walked for no good reason I would want to see harm done to the T-T... but how bout some contact info?
8:03 - get over it. You were probably fired for a good reason. You probably sucked. TT pays overtime and is anal about it. Did you file paperwork to receive overtime pay and have that denied? I would be shocked if that ever happened.
"Anal" is absolutely the correct word for TT management.
I would also be shocked if there was a paper trail on them denying overtime.
I would be equally shocked if there aren't dozens of current or ex-employees telling the feds that they felt coerced into working extra hours without compensation.
The standard procedure is to demand people to do A, B, C and D in an eight-hour day (beat notes and other make-works shit), plus a story, too, then cut them a new asshole when they submit a couple hours of OT. The dramatic final act is a Murph-delivered lecture about managing their time better.
After a few weeks on the job, the message sinks in.
9:02 nailed it.
Or being told point-blank overtime will not be available. No paperwork that way.
Denying overtime when someone has filed a time card for more than 40 hours is an open-and-shut violation of federal law.
Most managers, including even Murph, are too smart for that.
Isn't that Rebecca DeMornay?
Hot, hot, hot!
If I'm not mistaken, Senator Fred Thompson also appeared in that.
Hmmm...worked for TT from 02-06. Got paid OT for every minute I worked. Was nothing more than filling out an OT sheet and submitting it to my super.
No one ever said a word, and I worked OT almost every week. Correction: one time I was asked if my super new I was working OT that day. I said yes and never heard about it again.
7:39 ... What staff were you on? I have a feeling forced overtime at the TT is directly related to whether you work under Murph's sphere of influence.
Don't forget radio. Where they expect you to work extra hours for free.
The key word there is EXPECT!
The dolts in radio get "talent fees," under the table. No OT is necessary there.
I worked for Times Tribune for four years and never had a problem getting OT. Never. Several times Murph brought my time card over and said, "Did you forget about staying over a couple hours last Thursday?" and write in the extra hours. Just like that. The atmosphere was professional and positive. I always enjoyed Ed Christine's poetry readings at 3 p.m. each day. It was cute how he used to bring in cookies he baked himself, and then we'd take turns reading Emily Dickinson. Sometimes things got a little hectic and stressful late in the day, but the voluptuous blonde receptionist would break the tension by delivering hand jobs in the mailroom. Overall, it was a great place, and I miss those days. OT was not a problem, no sirree.
Only a dolt would think that anything at all goes "under the table" in a company larger than one nowadays. I'll give you that radio is rife with miscreants and malcontents but 9:20, you came off more like a dolt with that than anything in recent memory. Stick to what you know. That's the recipe for success in life and also the recipe for not looking like a jackass.
All of TS expects you to work for no overtime.
I have e-mails from my editor telling me that.
"Under the table" means the money comes from the clients the radio guys are appearing at.
There are no radio guys working even an extra minute inside the building. Any "OT" is at an event. Clients pay for that, and it's usually cash. 12:05 is clueless.
12:05 here...
...appearances are not classified as OT 9:02 though you are right that clients pay for them.
Once upon a time it WAS cash or a check handed directly to the "talent" but that hasn't been the case since the late '80's, early '90's. Talent fees (or OT as you incorrectly refer to them) are factored into the appearance/remote package and are paid to talent as additional income in their paycheck. The rate depends on who is making the appearance/doing the remote but no matter who, it is income that is taxed.
I'm clueless on a lot of things but this I know inside out. If you are being paid under the table hope that the IRS doesn't get wind of it because it isn't difficult for them to demand a list of anything you've appeared at and expect you to pay taxes (and a penalty) on it. That takes only one complaint/inquiry to happen. Where do you work? Heh.
My conclusion is you haven't worked in radio in years (if ever) and are essentially talking out your ill-informed ass.
The last time I asked for overtime at TT was when I worked a 14 hour day. The next day Ed Christine told me asking for overtime was "unprofessional" and that I "should be thinking about my career."
He made a good point. Two months later I quit.
"Unprofessional"....Ed Christine.
Nope, too easy. Pass.
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