Gannett put some post holiday fear into employees at an unknown number of its papers — workers who had already survived a number of downsizings.

Some unidentified executive erroneously sent employees a chilling note saying the employees would shortly be leaving the company and that they needed to fill out an attached exit interview form.

Among those who received the e-mail, we are told, were some of the employees at the North Jersey Media Group that includes The (Bergen) Record and other papers — where more than 200 employees were laid off following Gannett’s $40 million takeover last July.

David Harmon, the chief people officer (that is really his title), sent a follow-up e-mail telling employees not to panic.

“It has come to my attention that some of you may have received an automated email from ExitSurvey@Gannett. The email states you ‘will be leaving the company in the near future’ and also has an exit interview attached.

Please disregard any emails from ExitSurvey@Gannett and there is no need to respond.”

We’re not sure Harmon’s e-mail cheered up anyone — but it did produce a lot of gallows humor.

“Dry run, just practicing,” quipped one staffer at the Gannett- owned Detroit Free Press.

Media blogger Jim Romenesko was the first to post the e-mail from Harmon.