SCA to stand down multiple staffers across its radio business [exclusive]

Former Publisher
SCA, Hit105

Southern Cross Austereo will stand down multiple staffers this week, Radio Today can reveal.

In an email sent to all employees on Tuesday by CEO Grant Blackley, SCA detailed its plans to reduce payroll liability in a bid to survive the economic impact of the pandemic.

In the email, obtained by Radio Today, Blackley outlined a number of new measures the business was implementing, including “full” and “partial” stand-downs for non-essential workers.

“You can expect an email from your manager today,” wrote Blackley, “who will speak with you about how these measures may impact you individually.”

SCA declined to confirm how many people would be stood down as conversations were ongoing.

Blackley reiterated the previously announced measures in his email – reduced hours, annual leave and 10% pay cuts – for employees who are in roles deemed not “adversely impacted”.

The wage cuts and annual leave are only applicable for those earning at least $68,000 per annum.

For everyone else, partial and full stand-downs are on the cards resulting in “a reduction of work patterns” with salaries to be pro-rated to reflect the changes in hours.

“Unfortunately, there are a small number of employees for whom there is no available work at all,” Blackley said in the email, with some staffers to be “fully stood down”.

Radio Today understands the measures will impact all units, including sales and content.

In the email, Blackley said SCA had registered and “meets the criteria” for the Government’s JobKeeper subsidy, which suggests that the company has lost revenues of over 30%.

All affected and eligible SCA workers should receive the pre-tax payment of $1,500 per fortnight.

The measures are effective May 4 through to September 30, in line with temporary changes to the Fair Work Act, meaning workers’ hours and pay should revert to normal in October.

In a statement sent to Radio Today on Wednesday, Blackley confirmed an assessment of workload requirements had led to a temporary reduction in work hours for some employees.

“Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for everyone – including for our business and our people,” Blackley told Radio Today. “I have every faith in the strength and tenacity of our people and business and I know we will come through this together, prouder and stronger.”

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Peter Johnson
30 Apr 2020 - 12:22 am

SCA are still paying the price for the ridiculous decision to pay Rove millions of dollars to host breakfast and achieve a 3% share. Does Grant Blackley take responsibility for that decision?

Dave
30 Apr 2020 - 8:08 am

Sorry to all the staff affected.
Sadly the people that were responsible for this once great network being impacted so badly, after the departure of Kyle and Jackie O will probably keep their benefits and conditions.

Tom S.
30 Apr 2020 - 9:23 am

There’s no easy path when it comes to entering survival mode in broadcasting – or any other business. Management is always going to cop a walloping when staff are laid off – a bit unfair but not surprising. But this is an extraordinary time. When Coca Cola sales are off by 40% that’s indicative of the national trend in consumer spending and advertising budget cuts will follow. Nothing coming in means nothing going out. How bad is it? Look to the USA – FoxNews have agreed to air anti-Trump ads in their quest for revenue and the Murdoch’s themselves have agreed to a 20% cut in salary. (20% of a six million dollar salary – let’s see now -what will I have to give up?)

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