Taking a beating from Covid-19 economic impacts, Mediamax will for the second time fire more staff.
In a statement dated May 21, Mediamax CEO Ken Ngaruiya announced the plan to declare redundant some positions in the media house.
“Mediamax Network Limited regrets to advise; that owing to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that has adverse effects on its revenue streams, it shall reorganize its staff structure and abolish some positions as part of its cost optimization measures in the wake of its new business realities,” the statement read in part.
Among the top journalists at the company is Betty Kyalo, who headlines weekend news on K24, Anne Kiguta who hosts Punchline and Felix Odiwuor (Jalang’o) and Alex Mwakideu of Milele FM.
Mediamax has now issued affected employees one month’s notice of the intended redundancies.
The company will pay the terminated employees’ salaries for the period up to and, including the date of termination, accruing benefits and any leave days earned but not taken.
READ ALSO: Dr Patrick Amoth says Coronavirus peak will be in August; cases will increase to 200 a day
“In line with the current HR policies, Mediamax Network Limited shall give the employees declared redundant one month’s notice. Alternatively, Mediamax may pay them one month’s salary in lieu of notice and pay a severance pay at the rate of 15 days’ pay for each year of severance,” the CEO added.
This is not the first time Mediamax has tried to remain afloat in these adverse financial times. On April 21st, Mediamax notified staff of intended salary cuts.
In 2019, the company fired 160 employees in a bid to reduce operational costs. Among those affected were Swahili anchor Mwanaisha Chidzuga, Senior reporter Franklin Macharia and Head of Sports Torome Tirike.
Last month, Mediamax journalists secured an injunction barring the media house from effecting a 50 per cent pay cut for top earners, after the company proposed to cut pay due to coronavirus pandemic.
On April 18, Mediamax CEO Ken Ngaruiya had in a letter warned the employees that the company would be forced to cut down salaries in order to stay afloat.
Other leading media companies such as Royal Media and Radio Africa have effected pay cuts between 20-30 per cent.
This also comes hot on the heels after Peter Opondo, the senior-most editor at Mediamax overseeing the editorial functions of print, broadcast, and digital divisions resigned over management-related frustrations.
