COVID-19: Vision staff full salary reinstated

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Vision Group staff can finally afford a smile after the company announced that their full salaries will be restored effective October.  This comes after six months of cuts as a result of the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Addressing staff in a virtual meeting on Friday, chief executive Robert Kabushenga said the company's finances had greatly improved and that all staff who had been sent on forced leave would resume work on October 1.

Kabushenga also announced that all staff would have to get new terms of employment after the board agreed that staff be subjected to contracts as a basis of managing staff performance.

He advised staff to be on the lookout and ensure they follow the COVID-19 guidelines instituted  by the health ministry and the company, including keeping social distance, wearing masks and washing hands.

Kabushenga noted that to avoid crowding in office, some staff will continue working from home and through the shifts that had been set up. Staff at the company have been divided into two shifts, with each group working at the office for 14 days.

He also announced that no other staff at the company had tested positive for COVID-19 following the August scare when 15 staff tested positive. All those who tested positive have since recovered.

In April this year, Vision Group cut staff salaries by up to 60% due to the impact of COVID-19. While announcing the cuts at the time, Kabushenga indicated that "for the first time in 16 years, management has taken drastic measures to reduce the wage bill".

He said that was because "the recent downturn requires even more stiff measures to keep the business viable".

The company paid full salary for April 2020 but effected gross salary reduction from May. Those earning above sh19m got a 60% salary cut. Those earning between sh8m and sh19m had a 45% cut while those earning sh8m and below were subjected to a 40% salary cut.

In August, the cuts were slightly reduced, with most staff getting 25% salary cuts. 

Vision Group, whose major source of finances remains advertisement and sales, was greatly affected by the pandemic after key advertisers cut down their budgets and also a number measures introduced by Government affected the company's market base.

The sale of newspapers was greatly interrupted with disruptions in transportation between March to August.