Layoffs at Time Inc.’s Entertainment Weekly

The New York Observer is reporting that layoffs have begun at Time Inc.’s Entertainment Weekly. Per NYO:

One staffer who was laid off today told us that there are “across the board” cuts that affect both the magazine and ew.com. Roughly 15 editorial staffers were laid off today, with potentially more coming. So far, no staff meeting has been convened, and staffers are being informed of the bad news on a case-by-case basis.

You will recall that Time Inc. announced 600 company-wide layoffs last month, and earlier this week a number of magazines there issued memos to staff re: voluntary buyout packages. However, according to NYO EW staff were not given similar options and all the layoffs today were involuntary and came with little warning or precaution. Severance packages reportedly provided “two weeks’ pay for every year of employment at EW, and that for staffers with under three years of service there’s a minimum of six weeks of pay.”

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