RBI Freezes Salaries, Cuts 7 Percent of Workforce

Reductions follow company-wide reorganization.

By Jason Fell
01/26/2009

Reed Business Information today said that it has reduced its overall workforce by 7 percent in association with the company-wide reorganization it announced last week. In addition, the publisher has instituted a hiring and salary freeze for 2009.

The layoffs and salary freeze are “in response to the impact tough economic conditions,” a spokesperson wrote in an e-mail to FOLIO:. “If the financial outlook materially improves in subsequent quarters, the company will revisit its decision.”

According to the New York Times, one of those laid off is Publishers Weekly editor-in-chief Sara Nelson. The RBI spokesperson declined to comment on specific layoffs.

Last week, RBI reorganized into market-focused groups: business media, entertainment, construction and BuyerZone, a lead generation business. The reorganization, RBI said, was a result of Chicago division president Jeff Greisch’s announcement that he is leaving the company at the end of the first quarter.

A company spokesperson declined to discuss layoffs at the time of the announcement.