Bucs Will Temporarily Lock Out Employees
May 26th, 2011
Joe’s going to assume for a moment there are several employees at One Buc Palace who do not have guaranteed contracts and/or are paid by the hour.
Based on a statement from the Bucs, per the official team website, these people will lose a week’s pay — or be forced to use paid leave — when the Bucs close their offices next week as a lockout-driven, cost-cutting measure. (Joe wants to believe Bucs staff will get holiday pay for Memorial Day, but Joe’s unsure.) Below is the Bucs’ statement:
Due to the current NFL labor situation, the Buccaneers’ offices will be closed Memorial Day week. If the work stoppage continues into the fall, additional office closures during the week of Labor Day and in the winter have been conditionally added to the calendar. However, if the labor situation is resolved without the loss of any regular-season games, any lost wages will be fully reimbursed to Buccaneer employees.
“The Buccaneers remain hopeful that the 2011 season will be played without interruption; presuming this occurs, the plan will essentially provide the team’s entire staff with an extra week of paid vacation,” said team spokesman Jonathan Grella. “And more importantly, this plan preserves jobs and does not ask employees to work for less or no pay.”
The contingency plan was introduced in March in order to cause as little disruption as possible, and to allow the advance planning of vacations at a spot on the calendar when Buccaneers employees often take time off.
Other NFL teams are inflicting similar stress on their staff members. Joe feels bad for those whose lives are caught in the NFL lockout crossfire.
Joe thinks this potential cost-saving move by the Bucs is a little surprising and distressing, given how vocal Bucs officials have been in addressing the Tampa Bay region’s poor economy and the fact that the team needs all the time it can get to have its salespeople pounding the streets and working the phones to sell tickets.
May 26th, 2011 at 10:37 am
How many years of having the lowest payroll in football and they start “saving” $$$ on the backs of those who can least afford it? FOR SHAME, Glazer millionaires, how much more do you need to maintain your lifestyles?
May 26th, 2011 at 10:45 am
I don’t see what the problem is.
Usually, the employees don’t get a week off for Memorial Day, but because of the existance of the lockout this year…they do.
The Bucs gave the empoyees time to plan and claim vacation days as well for that time.
It’s only a week and it’s not like there is a lot to do at the offices. Besides, aren’t we nearing the time they shut down for 2 weeks anyway? (the only 2 weeks off the coaches normally get?)
May 26th, 2011 at 10:46 am
And yes…I’m a “glass half full” type of guy.
May 26th, 2011 at 10:48 am
@Joe
I was told by someone that they (the NFL) are planning to expand the rosters by 6 players this year to make up for missed practices and camps. Have you heard anything about this, Joe?
May 26th, 2011 at 10:54 am
Joe here
@Pete Dutcher –
1) In theory the lost week doesn’t seem so bad, but if you work there and don’t have vacation time yet, or have used it, or need it for a family event in July, life isn’t feeling to good right now.
2) Haven’t heard anyting serious about expanded rosters. but you’d think the teams would get more time for cuts/player evaluation.
May 26th, 2011 at 10:56 am
Pete Dutcher is right…. During th ehardest times of the curent rcession our company went to a 35 hour work week so as to not lay off employees…. This is not as bid a deal as it’s being made out to be.
May 26th, 2011 at 11:05 am
Atrain WD40:
Joe’s guessing your company doesn’t get billions of dollars up front from TV networks either.
Look, if a bean counter says you have to lay people off or have furloughs to save positions, so be it. Though Joe has no proof, this just smells like employees are being used as pawns or poker chips in this asinine lockout.
May 26th, 2011 at 11:10 am
“Joe’s guessing your company doesn’t get billions of dollars up front from TV networks either.”
Neither do the NFL Owners remember 59% of that money goes to players.
But I do think your right about the possibility of this being another strtegic move due to the fact that penny one has not been lost yet.
May 26th, 2011 at 11:45 am
A lot of people will bash the Glazers for this move, but it’s actually a much better plan than what’s been floated by other franchises.
May 26th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Like Joe, I too feel for the average people stuck in the middle in the battle of Millionaires versus Billionaires.
May 26th, 2011 at 11:58 am
I read the Dolphins would refund employees pay cuts, if no games were missed.
May 26th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
In the full article the Bucs will refund as well in the form of extra paid vacation.
May 26th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Atrain
Well, that’s somewhat cool then? Here’s to hoping there’s a season, other than for the obvious football reasons, of course.
May 26th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
I think that this is horrible. The owners have been planning for this for years, even have a lockout insurance program in place. To cut the pay of these lower paid employees is disloyal. So, the players wont cower and accept less of the pie so lets start taking from the non-player employees to offset the cost of our gamble. It doesnt matter if other teams are doing it, it isnt right. The owners, and the owners alone, have the ability to end this lockout. All they have to say is, we agree to extend the prior cba short-term or long-term, temporarily or permanently. They wont do it bc theh know the players can bullied financially.
May 26th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Thomas i still believe your wrong… The players have the ability to negotiate as well. The owners want to take a little back… Negotiate the best deal you can with a little give and take. The Players right now only want us to believe theyre willing to get a deal done……
May 26th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
From what i’ve heard the owners have softened thier stance twice maybe three times but the players keep saying go to hell basically. Excellent negotiating tactic.
May 26th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
I think its important for all teams to stop referring to the current issue as a “work stoppage”. It is a LOCKOUT and should be addressed as such.
Additionally, it is sad that billionaires not pay office personnel during the lockout since the lockout is their choice.
May 26th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
All of the information on this issue is not being provided here, which is causing some people to speak about the Glazers as if they’re doing some horrible thing.
The fact is that ownership has stated clearly that this lost week of pay will be reimbursed to the employees if there are no games lost this season. The only way it becomes a permanent loss of pay is if regular season games are lost for the 2011 season.
Employees can use paid vacation right now to make sure there is no loss of pay this coming week, and if/when the 2011 season starts with no loss of games that paid vacation will be reimbursed to them. Or they can choose to keep their paid vacation and take a loss of a week’s paycheck this coming week. In that case the pay will be reimbursed once the 2011 season starts (with no loss of games).
Stop freaking out. There are other NFL teams doing MUCH worse by their employees. This is a drop in the bucket in comparison.
May 26th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Fly
I’m in the same boat as Atrain and had our hours cut to 32 hours to avoid layoffs. We’re not freaking out? But, you might want to ask those One Buc Place employees, if they are? You keep bringing up “with no loss of games”? Well if there are, which seems likely, what happens then?
May 26th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
Think about it. Do you think the Glazers wanted this strike? Why. They have much to lose, and virtually nothing to gain.
They have the sweet Stadium deal. Their payroll is well within the cap( to put it Mildly) . They have a young competitive team that us quickly becoming the media Favorite. They had no problem with the existing deal, as the were fielding a great team, spending wisely, and raking in the loot under the former agreement!
What they don’t need is to further disenfranchise the local fans, who are sluggishly starting to recognize what a great team we have built. All they need is people on the seats, and the product will sell itself. Strikes aren’t exactly good for reviving fan love affairs
Plus you’ve built a great young, motivated team. You have a staff they support and believe in, and coaches who can take them to the next level.
Ain’t none of that happening. Instead of our young guys watching their film with their coaches, expanding on what they accomplished last year, they ain’t even talking to each other. That will hurt young players more than vets. The first three years are learning years- only no one is allowed to teach right now
So it hurts the team. And if you ever believe one word I’ve said, believe this, the Glazers are all about winning. They want titles!! Both in Kickball and the NFL. If you don’t believe me, review just how quick they’ve put some winning coaches to the curb, for not getting the Ring!!
I think they hate this llockout worse than us. Because they think this team would be in the playoffs, with a normal offseason and training camp.
So do I. Not the SuperBowl( not yet!) but they would have taken the next step. This lockout may affect that. And that would really suck!
May 26th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
CaptTim
I agree with your take on the Glazers wanting to win, no doubt. And, well said. I don’t hate the Glazers for this. Many other teams are doing it. I’m sure they all will eventually, if they don’t get thier $hit together and settle the CBA and end this lockout! Cause, it affects more than just the players and owners. The average joes’ at One Buc, and around the league, are who I feel bad for.
May 26th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
@OAR
If there are games lost then everyone is going to suffer in a big way. That’s what will happen. Doesn’t take much in the way of predictive skills to see that coming.
And as a business owner in the big-ticket retail arena my pay has decreased by about 50% since the economy started tanking two and a half years ago. I understand what it means to sacrifice in a downturn.
May 26th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Fly
I understand it will hurt everyone, that’s my point. It’s just not the big boys and thier bosses, but their smaller employees that will take the biggest hit economically in thier cost of living. That, I’m sure of.
May 26th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
I believe that Malcolm Glazer cared about winning.
May 26th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Yes, Fly. You’re right. The Bucs’ brass can outclass a bum–so let’s leave them alone.
May 27th, 2011 at 12:35 am
i believe, your an idiot thomas! please post about what its like to have a meaningless life like you have….its got to be better than anything else you put up….LOSER
May 27th, 2011 at 7:08 am
What great kind hearted guys these Glazer boys are.
Take vacation time. Yea that pays the bills.
Are the Glazers gonna take a vacation from the TV monies?