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Printing away RR Donnelley & Sons is the largest commercial printer in the United States, and a major printing supplier in the United Kingdom. By keeping its technology current, RR Donnelley has benefited from such high profile, state-of-the-art customers as Microsoft (who launched the Windows 95 system through the Chicago-based printing and reproduction company), while continuing to provide more traditional catalog, magazine, and newspaper printing services. Beginnings Founded in 1870 as Lakeside Publishing and Printing, RR Donnelley & Sons established itself as an industry leader at the turn of the century by landing a series of lucrative contracts, including Encyclopedia Britannica, Time magazine, and Life magazine. Since then, the company has continued its tradition of supplying mail-order catalogs, telephone directories, paperback books, and a variety of periodicals. Though the company continues to print TV Guide, Readers Digest, The National Enquirer, and Star, recent years have presented RR Donnelley with new challenges. Some difficulties The company was stung when Sears discontinued its mail-order catalogs in 1993, and Stream International, RR Donnelley's software publishing arm, has floundered since the release of Windows 95. Moreover, the company was hit with lawsuits in 1996 that accused it of discriminating on the basis of race and age. The company posted a loss that year, despite sales of $6.6 billion. Despite these setbacks, RR Donnelley has continued its aggressive global expansion and is now a major magazine printer in dozens of countries. The company pursued a year long restructuring in 1997, and found a new CEO in William Davis. RR Donnelley marked its conversion to the more efficient CTP (computer-to-plate) process in January 1998, printing Time, Sports Illustrated, and People from digital files. Paring up RR Donnelley & Sons has continued in its attempt to attract new investors by forming many strategic alliances in 1999. The company aligned itself with Experian to create customized communications based upon customer needs and preferences and also paired up with PostX Express to use their e-mail delivery service. Furthermore, the company formed an alliance with Multimedia Live, a web design firm, as part of an increased focus on enhancing its e-commerce business strategy. RR Donnelley also acquired Communicolor in 1999, a direct mail marketing group, to strengthen its leadership in that industry under RRD Direct, its direct-mail business. The company's new alliances and acquisitions are expected to increase profits and pull the company out of its previous slump. The internet revolution With the advent of e-books, RR Donnelly sought to place itself in a favorable position to capitalize on the new format. An agreement with Microsoft to license technology opens up RR Donnelley's titles to users of Microsoft Reader. As for RR Donnelley's own online division, it will be spun off into a subsidiary and renamed Red Rover Digital. The company is banking on the new unit being very successful, as it hopes to cut its dependance on maufacturing and move into services.
With decentralized hiring procedures, RR Donnelley accepts resumes by regular mail at any of its offices, fax or e-mail. For a select list of offices and available positions within the company, consult RR Donnelley's home web page, located at www.rrdonnelley.com. When possible, applicants should include the two-letter job code of the position for which they are applying.
Generosity makes employees stay Donnelley "invests heavily" in its employees, who say that it has "deep pockets" for salaries and benefits. While the company's size creates "extensive promotion opportunities," it also provides "enough red tape to hold employees to their desks." RR Donnelley "tests" entry-level employees and "shows the door" to those who do not perform well; those who do are "actively encouraged" and "rewarded generously." Says an insider: "It is not unusual to encounter and be dealing with lots of people that have been around the company for 20+ years. People seem to come here and stay for the rest of their careers since the company pays well and takes care of its people." An employee says "Donnelley has historically invested heavily in its business and its people; the firm has deep pockets." Dress and hours Finance and marketing positions are available at Donnelley's corporate office in downtown Chicago, which is described as "very competitive" and "political." The dress code in Chicago is "traditional business" except on Fridays when it's "business casual." In Donnelley's financial department, sales are considered "lucrative," "but you have to cut them pretty quick or you will not have a job for long." Still, the sales office is viewed as more "laid-back" than the corporate office and dress in sales is business casual. For those in customer service, which is accessible to the public 24 hours a day, expect to work odd hours. There are three shifts so "you may have to start working midnight to 8 a.m. We do operate around the clock, so shift work is the norm." RR Donnelley is not a unionized company. Perks and parties Benefits start off with "two weeks of vacation and a PPO medical plan, to which you have to contribute about ten dollars a month." The company also has something called the "Donnelley Club," for which employees are charged eight dollars a year. "The Donnelley Club has Christmas parties, shopping trips, sporting events for which we can get a bus to the games. There are gift certificates for turkeys at Thanksgiving. These are just a few of the things the Donnelley Club offers." Diversity growing Finally, even though RR Donnelley has faced lawsuits for racial and age-based discrimination, some current employees say that RR Donnelley has been "fair" and "equal" in the treatment of its "diverse" workforce. Still, employees admit that of the company - especially upper-management - is "predominantly white and male." New CEO William L. Davis is "the first outsider that has sat in that chair in the history of the company," and "seems to be a pretty-good, straight-shooter businessman," says one employee. A source adds: "Management is very much aware of what needs to be done and the statistics are changing. However, if you're looking for an organization with a diverse makeup today, you won't find it here today."
Human Resources
Books;Catalogs;Direct mail;Directories;Electronic commerce;Financial printing;Magazines;Online services;Retail inserts
ACG Holdings;ALLTEL;Banta;Big Flower Holding;Bowne;Cadmus Communications;Courier;Dai Nippon Printing;EBSCO Industries;Harte-Hanks;Merrill;Quad/Graphics;Quebecor;Taylor Corporation;Volt Information;World Color Press More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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