Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 11, 1992 TAG: 9203110328
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JIM KALACH
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
By stating "The announcement came just one day after Kalach said there were no plans to trim the 50-member work force . . . ," your reporter implies that this was a surprise to our staff.
First, as your news article noted, our employees were informed several times, beginning in November 1991, about pending changes in staffing in our property-casualty claim department in Roanoke.
At that time a voluntary separation option was announced, and on Feb. 5, your reporter asked if there were plans to cut the work force. I responded that Travelers was not making any announcements that day.
On Thursday, however, we did make an announcement to employees, expanding on our January announcement. This is in keeping with our practice of informing employees before we inform anyone else, including the Roanoke Times & World-News.
Beyond that, your story contained additional errors:
First, no employees were "fired,' as you described it. Rather, The Travelers announced that 17 positions were being eliminated on a business move to increase the cost efficiency of operations.
The article also incorrectly stated that employees received a buy-out offer. Last November, employees received a voluntary-separation offer that allows employees considering other career options or early retirement a chance to pursue those goals while receiving Travelers' standard severance benefits. All 17 employees whose jobs have been eliminated also receive these benefits, as well as job counseling and outplacement assistance.
Jim Kalach is spokesman for Corporate Media Relations with The Travelers Companies in Hartford, Conn.
by CNB