In all probability, beginning tomorrow morning (Dec. 5), the best and brightest people in the Union-Tribune newsroom will line up to get first crack at ending their careers. The reason is the abysmal, hurry-up way in which the buyout was handled. It's a tipoff of more trouble down the road. Employees got a memo Dec. 3 and were told that they should start applying for possible buyouts on Dec. 5. They were warned that the buyouts were "one of several steps" to slash expenses, and requests would be considered on a "first come, first served" basis. Intelligent writers and editors have figured that if the company is in this much of a hurry, the economic problems must be very, very deep, and whoever stays will face the axe later, particularly as the product declines in quality and the individual workload increases severely. Also, the company warned that those getting an involuntary buyout would get less. "Auto workers get two months" to make such a decision, says one employee."I'm getting 36 hours to decide my future." Last year, employees with 30 years of service were offered a buyout on November 1 and the drop-dead date was December 8 -- lots of time. The December 3 management letter was ambiguous and sloppily prepared; for example, it said that Human Resources would have to get completed forms by Monday, December 12. But Monday is December 10. The 12th is a Wednesday. Employees I spoke with believe that the correct date is the 12th. The company has sent out a Frequently Asked Questions sheet. It says that in a voluntary separation, "people have not received unemployment." But some of those with 30 years service last year went on unemployment for extended periods. Employees turn in their buyout requests from December 5 through 7, but can rescind them within 7 days from the date they were received by Human Resources. The severance checks (meagre by many standards) will be issued on January 4 and will be taxed at 25 percent federal, 6 percent state. (There may be other taxes.) Employees taking the buyout are permanently separated from the company, although there may be a few instances in which a handful of ex-employees may be asked to do "some work." As I have stated repeatedly, the U-T's circulation is doing much worse than that of other metro dailies, for a variety of reasons, particularly dubious management. But I have not seen evidence that top management either in La Jolla or Mission Valley is taking a hit, even after questionable strategizing and implementation. Employees are asking why the company is not selling its La Jolla headquarters (at least, no one has seen that it is up for sale), and why its society columns continue to write about owner David Copley cruising the Mediterranean in his $33 million yacht. Decisions at the top left this company completely tied up in the metropolitan daily newspaper business -- just about the worst area of the media these days. Says one employee, "The company is good from the neck down."