REVEALED! Anxiety And Tension Engulf Standard Media Group As Mass Retrenchment Looms In The Air
Exclusive reports from a highly guarded source indicate that the Standard Media Group,a company that runs and owns Kenyas oldest premier television, Radio Maisha
and the standard newspaper is in the final stage of sacking its employees in what the C.E.O Sam Shollei described today as a Voluntary Early Retrenchment.
In a leaked internal memo(attached therein), signed by the company’s Chief Executive Officer the unionisable employees from all departments have been asked to either opt for a voluntary early requirement and get a two months gross salary or go home empty handed on 20th July when the offer shall expire, a day they will officially be sent home.
We are reliably informed that things are so thick and murky at the Mombasa-road based media house that the Head of Human Resource Pauline Kiraithe had to be called back from her 3 month maternity leave to attend an impromptu departmental heads meeting in which every head of department presented a list of people who are likely to be laid off.
It is not clear why the company has resorted to this painful decision, however it is rumored that the company has been on the downward trend since the onset of digital migration which has cut into the company’s profits.
According to one of the studio technical operator s who insists on maintaining anonymity,80% of the TV guys are on two year renewable contracts something he fears might make it hard for them to get the retirement package as they are not in any professional body. The print section is not to be spared as well with many employees also set to face the wrath of unemployment.
This comes barely a month after the company unveiled plans of launching a second television station. Quite ironic I must say considering they sent home the HapaKule cast the same month they made the announcement.
Media pundits will be keeping a close eye and so will be Ghafla who will be updating
