By Andy Grimm, Post-Tribune staff writer
MUNSTER -- TheTimes of Northwest Indiana laid off five non-newsroom employees this week in a cost-cutting move that consolidated several management positions, Publisher Bill Masterson Jr. said.
Three managers were laid off in the advertising and circulation departments and two mailroom employees were released.
In a memo to Times staff this week, acquired from an industry Web site, Masterson said the moves reflect changes in the workload in the advertising sales and circulation departments and changes in how work is done in the mailroom, due to automation.
"This is the result of revenue substantially getting worse, the outcome of the nation's recession hitting home," he said. "Like so many companies, we are challenged with how to eliminate more expense."
One of the cost-cutting measures he is considering, Masterson said, is to follow Gannett's move to have employees take a week's unpaid furlough.
"A one week unpaid furlough is temporary and does not affect the long-term employment of the individuals or the team. It also gives us immediate relief going straight to the bottom line," he said.
On Friday, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch -- owned by the same company that owns the Times -- announced it will require all non-union employees to take a one-week unpaid furlough, citing the continuing downturn.
The Post-Dispatch said the furloughs must be taken by March 31 and will affect 300 non-represented employees.
Masterson said that The Times' revenues were healthy and the layoffs this week were not mandated by Lee officers.
The Times laid off 12 employees in August.