Vivendi to Cut Jobs

Vivendi is a name that you may or may not know, though the odds are good that even if you do not know the main company, the odds are good that you at least know about on of its subsidiaries. For those of you who are not familiar lets begin by looking at how the company has chosen to describe itself (http://www.vivendi.com/vivendi-en/vivendi-in-brief/), “Vivendi combines the world leader in video games (Activision Blizzard), the world leader in music (Universal Music Group), the French leader in alternative telecommunications (SFR), the Morrocan leader in telecoms (Maroc Telecom), the leading alternative broadband operator in Brazil (GVT), and the French leader in pay-TV (Canal+ Group)…Vivendi creates, publishes and distributes digital products and services. The Group relies on the strength of its inventors and designers, its engineers and its brands to offer to its customers digital content, platforms and distribution networks of the highest quality. It controls the entire value chain, from production to publishing and distribution of content (video games, music and audiovisual works).”

Sadly the company may be getting ready to layoff about 1,100 workers in France, though it is important to stress that for the time being these layoffs are only rumors and have not been confirmed by either the company or any filings made with the government at this time.
Interestingly the company, in its latest release was about a youth oriented career day instead of about the potential changes that the company is making it its staffing, “Vivendi is a partner of the second edition of France’s National Youth Day to be held this November 30. Vivendi will bring together four high school classes in its head office for an introduction of the many careers in the cultural and creative industries: film director, lawyer, music producer, video game project manager, etc. These many job paths are highlighted in the “creative jobs” section of the Culture(s) With Vivendi website. This is a unique opportunity for young students to meet and ask questions to professionals and artists such as Michel Vuillermoz of the Comédie Française and young movie director Stéphane Cazes. Vivendi will also speak at the “Osons ensemble” (Dare Together) conference taking place the same day and organized by the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Paris, which sponsors the National Youth Day. Vivendi has defined empowerment of youth, promotion of cultural diversity and sharing knowledge as strategic issues of its societal responsibility.”

This is not, as you may imagine, the only company in the entertainment arena to make job cuts. For those of you who missed out on our earlier look at job cuts to Zynga here is an excerpt that will get you up to speed in no time at all, “Earlier this week the company chose to cut back on about five percent of its workers, in a move designed to help the company cut back on costs. The layoffs have impacted workers in several US cities, including Austen, Chicago and Boston, though at this time it is not clear if the company has triggered a mass layoff action.”