Hundreds of journalists at The Washington Post received dreaded emails in their inboxes on Wednesday morning informing them they’d been laid off. The emails also addressed another key question: how much severance the Post was offering.
The newspaper, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, made sweeping cuts across the newsroom as part of a restructuring of its business. Journalists who cover sports, foreign affairs, books, or do audio reporting were particularly impacted. The company said in a statement that the changes were designed to “strengthen our footing and sharpen our focus on delivering the distinctive journalism that sets The Post apart.”
As some workers were shown the door, human resources sent over severance packages tied to how long they’d worked at the company. Business Insider viewed a copy of the offer terms.
Here’s a quick summary:
- Let-go workers will remain on payroll through April 10 (commonly referred to as garden leave).
- Each staff member can receive a minimum of 4 weeks of severance pay after April 10.
- Workers who have been at the Post for three years or more will receive an additional two weeks of severance for each of those years, capped at 45 weeks of pay.
Post journalists aren’t required to take the severance offer, and they could lose the package if they don’t act professionally during the process, according to a memo sent to staff by human resources and viewed by Business Insider.
The company also must negotiate separation terms with the newsroom’s union, the Washington Post Guild. That means “the exact terms of the separation program” are not yet final, the memo said.
The Washington Post did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. The newspaper’s union also did not immediately respond.
In the memo, the Post’s HR point person told affected staff that the decision to cut their jobs was in “no way a reflection of your worth or dedication, but a necessary step in the evolution of our business.”
Outside of severance, Post workers may also receive financial support from a new GoFundMe page launched on Wednesday that has raised over $100,000, including $10,000 from Kara Swisher.
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