In the wake of the massive sackings at Radio Africa last week, a senior editor at the Star newspaper sensational claimed that the company had overzealously sacked some of its best talent, leaving behind ‘dead wood’.
In a heated Facebook conversation, Radio Africa training editor Victoria Graham appeared to give credence to claims that the retrenchment may not have been done impartially, meaning some top editors or managers influenced the exit of certain journalists due to personal reasons rather professional competence.
In an exchange with Radio Africa Group human resources manager Kathy Kageni-Oganga, Ms Graham says: “….Understandable if cuts are made impartially. Deadwood should go, not remain, so we continue to carry weak people.”
She sought to know what criteria used to push out some top journalists, who were seen to be better performers than those who were retained. “Sad about loss of good people when there was a choice,” she says.
Being the training editor, Victoria is better placed to know the talent mix and individual abilities.
But Ms Kageni-Oganda sharply countered this assertion, arguing that the recommendations for sackings were made by heads of departments. “Discuss it in your meetings and raise any concerns you have so they can be addressed as you do sit in editorial meetings, Victoria.”
See Also >> Radio Africa HR manager calls sacked employees fools
The management intervened as the exchange threatened to explode and had the Facebook chats pulled down. But that brief conversation brought out the feelings that many were afraid to voice. Some argued that if sacking was based on performance, then the real culprits were untouched, though no names were being given.
This led to HR manager to issue a scathing statement against those allegations saying those who believe they had been sacked without their bosses’ consent were fools and the bosses were hypocrites.
[crp]
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