Counsellors deployed to manage massive layoff at Radio Africa

Radio Africa Group today formally began sacking its employees to trim its payroll as a way of bringing down its operating expenses. Employees across the departments – editorial, production, sales and management – have started receiving their letters, with the exercise expected to be concluded by tomorrow.

It is the deepest cut that Radio Africa has made on its payroll and is bound to leave a bloodbath by the time the last sacked worker walks out of Lion Place. Tough times, it seems, call for tough measures.

Meanwhile, the company has deployed an arm of counsellors to deal with the emotional stress and financial advisers to help those fired plan their finances. The trauma caused by anxiety has also taken a toll on employees, affecting production and office harmony. “We highly encourage anyone who would like to go in and have a chat with them to do so to enable us process the emotions we might be feeling,” says HR manager Kathy Kageni-Oganga.

Those affected by the retrenchment have been asked to go through counselling before receiving their terminal dues to enable them process their next step as they receive their package.

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The deployment of counsellors has been hailed as a show of care from the company, even though it doesn’t lessen the pain of losing a job. In the past, media houses have often ambushed employees with redundancy letters which suddenly throw them into a new world of sorrow and financial stress.

Kageni-Oganga also asked victims to check with her office for referrals to job openings in other companies as “we have some friends looking to hire.”

“Otherwise we urge all our staff to be supportive of one another and our managers to hold everyone together during this time,”

The company’s business lines have been suffering over the past two or so years, with its flagship Star newspaper dropping in circulation from a high of 30,000 to below 10,000, according to insider figures. Radio stations have also been losing audience and advertising to rivals and digital platforms.

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