QUILLBLOG

HarperCollins offers voluntary retirement package to U.S. employees

Of all the cost-saving measures announced by major U.S. publishers in past weeks, those at HarperCollins have until now been relatively mild. However, this morning, the company presented a voluntary retirement package to its U.S. employees, raising the possibility of future layoffs. According to Publishers Lunch, the offer applies only to employees over the age of 55 who have been with the company for more than five years, and for now does not affect Canadian workers:

Noting that the company “has never done anything like this before,” [company spokesperson Erin] Crum would not indicate a target number of job reductions. She says “we’re encouraging people to respond as quickly as possible,” adding that “we hope to hear if people are interested by February 3.”

Asked about the possibility of layoffs in addition to the retirement package … Crum simply said that “given the uncertainty, every option to contain our costs is being looked at.”