Discovery cuts staff, will add digital positions
Cory Bergman April 9th, 2007
Discovery Communications is laying off about 200 employees in a restructuring that will focus more resources on its digital efforts. Layed off employees will get the first chance to apply for the new digital positions. Stories like these — as they become more commonplace — should serve as reminders for TV staffers to branch out and learn more about the web to preserve their long-term career competitiveness.
Adds LongTimer in comments: “Cory, all well and good, but it’s not always possible for those skillsets to transfer (aka, the company may not value what your overall contribution in a new area would be and therefore would ‘pigeonhole’ you based on what you do now.) If employers can stay open minded to employees taking on new challenges, then it’s a win-win. Unfortunately too many employers see the layoffs as a good opportunity to cut experienced staffer salary and hire kids.”
25 Comments Add your own
1. LongTimer | April 9th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Cory, all well and good, but it’s not always possible for those skillsets to transfer (aka, the company may not value what your overall contribution in a new area would be and therefore would “pigeonhole” you based on what you do now.) If employers can stay open minded to employees taking on new challenges, then it’s a win-win. Unfortunately too many employers see the layoffs as a good opportunity to cut experienced staffer salary and hire kids.
2. netbabe | April 10th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Cory, I agree with you. It’s not about transferring skillsets, but about enhancing them with additional skills. Employees will increasingly need to be nimble and adaptable; easier said than done for some. Discovery’s lay-offs are about trimming fat and focus on growth areas–I don’t believe savings from this lay-off go to bottom line nor will they hire junior staffers are replacements. These jobs are gone, gone, gone with new jobs in digital media and programming opening up.
3. Aaron | April 10th, 2007 at 9:49 am
LongTimer needs to stop worrying about whether his current skill set will “transfer” and start worrying about how he’s going to expand his skill set to his next job.
Companies need to start looking for more ways to give employees like LongTimer the skills they’ll need in the very near future.
Unions (of which I suspect LongTimer is a member) need to embrace and encourage their membership to learn those skills now, rather than after their members get restructured out of a job.
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