Now that the promised 12% percent reduction in TR's workforce between 2018 and 2020 has actually happened, I can't help wondering if TR's customers have truly benefited. Are they getting a better service? Have products truly improved? How current are the products now after the layoffs? Did the promised greater efficiencies and efficacy within TR actually benefit customers? Were customers actually consulted about what they wanted? Who really benefited from that round of layoffs? Questions, questions.
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They weren't supposed to. Shareholders were. It's all about operating income and free cash flow (i.e. profitability).
Since the layoffs 2018-20, I'm seeing considerably less updates being produced where I work, though some of them seem to be larger. Output also seems to be down considerably for some products. Greater use seems to be made of outsourcing. I know of one instance where an experienced editor, who was assisted by one outsourced person, was RIFd and once out the door they hired an additional outsourced person to work on that ed's products. Can't imagine many savings there. I often notice minor errors in some databases, which I put down to recent grads replacing more experienced people being shown the door between 2018-20. I can't see how customers have come out on the plus side after these layoffs. Managers don't seem to be too fazed by this. Given the huge salaries they are on, they should be held more accountable.
Apparently you can't say "k–led" on this site or you get h-y-p-h-e-n'd. Substitute "terminated."
Good question. My position in Editorial was eliminated during this period and I'd like to hear from someone with information beyond cost savings/bottom line. It's easy to assume that customers would not benefit and to take shots at senior management's decisions but what are the facts? Did TR do customer surveys? Were retention or ad revenue numbers up/down significantly? Were deadlines missed? Were there more complaints to Editorial Questions (does that even still exist?) Were more products k–led? Did TR lose more customers to CCH or Bloomberg in this period? Was it more difficult to recruit authors/contributors? What did sales reps hear from customers?
Customers def did not benefit form mindless job cutting. Only the Corporate fat cats and empty suits who received handsome bonuses from the bloodshed.