Standard Group To Initiate Fresh Mass Firings

Close to two months after promoting its Managing Director-Broadcast Division, Joe Munene as the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Standard Group Limited has announced that it intends to fire staff across various departments.

In an internal memo addressed to all staff on Friday, September 1 and seen by Viral Tea, the Mombasa road-based media house revealed that it intends to declare redundancy, the first time it is doing so under Munene's tenure at the executive post.

"This is to notify all members of staff of the Company's intention to declare redundancies that will affect employees across several departments. The affected employees will be duly informed in writing," read the memo in part.

Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joe Munene during a past media address. /FILE

Standard Group explained that the redundancy process was necessitated by the restructuring of the business to adopt a leaner, more efficient structure.

Also cited are the shifting trends in media consumption occasioned by technological changes in the digital environment.

The media house went on to state that it will ensure the process and the selection criteria are fair and in compliance with the provisions of the Employment Act, 2007, and the Collective Bargain Agreement ("CBA") for union employees.

"All Employees who will be declared redundant will be paid as follows: Payment for days worked until the date of exit. Severance pay of 15 days (or as indicated in the CBA for employees who are members of a union) for every completed year of service.

"Notice pay as per the Contract of Employment. Payment of leave days accrued and not taken at the time of exit. Pension dues or gratuity in accordance with the Scheme Rules or Contract of Employment, respectively," Standard Group explained its modes at which affected employees will be compensated.

The century-old company, which hosts media channels such as KTN Home, KTN News, Radio Maisha, The Standard Newspaper, The Nairobian (a weekly tabloid), Vybez Radio, Spice FM, KTN Burudani and KTN Farmers, gave a one-month notice of the intention to declare redundancy with effect from September 1.

Support via private counselling and a free financial management session will be made available for the affected staff, with those seeking further information advised to contact the Human Resources Manager.

Munene, in a screenshot of an email seen by Viral Tea, issued an apology to Standard Group staff regarding the continued challenges around the salary payment delays, which have been a huge thorn in the media house for months, assuring his employees that plans were in motion to resolve the issue.

"As indicated at the recent Staff Comm we will be making some proposals in the course of this month September, or latest October, on how this matter will be resolved. I am fully aware of the adverse consequences of the delays, and we are committed to resolving the matter both for all current staff as well as for those of our former colleagues for whom some arrears may still be pending.

"Now as we work to transform/revitalise our business we have to ensure that our business is well-optimised and efficient in its operations. Some of the decisions we must now make are going to affect the employment status of some staff members, as well as some of our current product offerings," stated Munene in part.

On September 7, 2022, Viral Tea first reported on the salary crisis at the media giant which saw staff not receive their dues for the month of August, mostly packed with the general elections on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.