The newspaper business is in bad, bad shape. The Orange County Register, one of the largest newspapers in California, has asked reporters and other employees to voluntarily deliver the paper on Sundays in exchange for gift cards. Do you think those reporters ever thought they would be delivering papers door-to-door as part of their job? And are you passionate enough about your job to get your hands dirty like this?
The Santa Ana-based Orange County Register, which recently stopped contracting with rival Los Angeles Times for delivery services, is offering $150 gift cards to staff members if they deliver 500 to 600 papers, according to the memo sent on Thursday, which was confirmed by the paper's top editor.[...]
Employees have also been asked to help out in customer service, personally telephoning subscribers who had not been able to reach a live agent, according to the memo sent to the staff.
"It's unusual, yes," Curley told Reuters. "It's frustrating that we're even in this position. But it's temporary. Bottom line: all of us want our loyal readers to get their papers first thing in the morning."
"It is really sad," Glenn said, "and it's really sad, I think that some people think this is beneath me. No, it is really not. We are either going to be in this together or we are not."
"Let's just say that our company was in the newspaper business, and you were working here. And I said to you guys, look this is a temporary thing. Do you believe in the paper or not? Because if you believe in the paper, we've got to get our footing back. Are you telling me there's not enough people that would help deliver those papers in the morning? If not, it is the death nail. That means the people who work there just don't believe in it enough."
Nothing sounds more miserable than spending day in and day out at a job you hate, but many people do it everyday. Going into a place for 40, 50, or 60 hours a week would be torturous.
"We used to love Mondays," Pat said. "Loved Mondays. Glenn and I were on vacation in Hawaii and after two days, wanted nothing more than to come back to work. We are in paradise and this beautiful island. All we wanted to do is just come back to work."