My Resignation Letter

Chase McPherson worked as a Digital Content Producer at Tegna’s WZDX in Huntsville.

He was expecting to leave the job later next month, but he decided it was time.

He left with this resignation letter. He hopes that someone higher up at Tegna sees it, and maybe invokes change.

Here’s his letter:

Hey all;

Shortly after my grandmother's passing, I received some sage advice from Carrie (Carrie Yates, WZDX GM) that said simply, "Be kind to yourself," which led to my decision to leave my position here at the station prematurely.

Events over the past 72 hours have led to me deciding it is necessary to accelerate that plan. 

I cannot in good conscience work somewhere where being appropriately staffed in advance of severe weather and fulfilling our obligation to public safety takes a backseat to a multimillion dollar corporation's desire to save money on overtime. 

I cannot in good conscience work somewhere that puts more value on "an environment of constant change" than on an investment in the time and people necessary in making (and promoting) content that viewers will want to watch.

I will not sit and watch more people leave this building at the end of the day openly dreading their next shift - or wondering if this'll be the day they'll be told their services are no longer required - or being given two months to watch their job be dismantled away from them.

I originally signed on here because I believed this to be a familial environment backed by a company that values the efforts of the people who came to work for it and which valued an informed society. I no longer believe that is the case, and I cannot in good conscience be an advocate for a brand or a company that no longer holds those values in high regard.

For those I am directly impacting by my immediate departure, please accept my sincerest apologies. 

For those who in any way share any of the same concerns I have here voiced - please accept these four words of advice.

Be kind to yourself.

My badge and key fob are on the desk.

Chase

P.S.: Congratulations to Jordan and Emily on being WeatherRate Certified Most Accurate for a fourth consecutive year! I'm so very proud of your hard, smart work!