MEDIAMAX (K24 TV) fires 100 Via TEXT on Sunday Night.

Meria

Meria

Elder Lister
The manner in which employees affected by the latest retrenchment at Mediamax Networks Ltd, owned principally by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s family, were notified has left corporate Kenya and the media industry in shock.

The 100 workers unlucky enough to be on the Mediamax to-go list were notified of their fates through an SMS on Sunday night by various human resources managers, ruining the weekend for the men and women who have been playing a part in running this company.

In one message, human resources manager Maureen Wandera was the bearer of the bad news. “I am contacting you with regards to the redundancy notice issued on 21st of May 2020,” Ms Wandera writes in one of the texts reviewed by Business Today.
“The notice period has expired. Unfortunately your position has been affected by way of redundancy. I would like to invite you to Emory Hotel in Kileleshwa tomorrow, Monday 22nd at 8:55am to discuss what this means to your employment. When you get to the hotel kindly ask for me. We thank you for your indulgence and cooperation in this matter.”

104893065_296470441740007_2845038751597672289_n.jpg
 
Via George Mulala

Its nothing personal.

Media Max company has just sent home a huge number of employees. Poleni sana.

But I want to take this opportunity to ask you not to take this redundancy personal. Its not a rejection. Media Max hasnt weighed you and found you wanting. Its not statement of your perfomance. Look at it from the point of view that it cannot afford your services anymore.

In 2002, I was made redundant by Reuters. My detractors ran around Nairobi gossiping about me being a non perfomer. The company itself mumbled incoherently about why it was sending me home. Shortly, those who were laughing at me followed me out. Cashflow issues.

I left a legacy not many will beat and my belief in myself as good photojournalist was not shaken. I moved to NMG and later Standard where I served and left at my own pleasure in 2015. I am still a good photojournalist and next year, I will return, perhaps as an employer...inshallah.

In my tribulations I learnt companies have no soul. I learnt not to fall in love with my employer. I learned to fall in love with my career. Today you can be working for Microsoft and tomorrow be employed at Marigiti.

I learned companies are not people. I learned never to sacrifice the joy of my family to please the employer. Employers come and go, you have but one family. When your employer must axe you, nothing, not even those sacrifices that made you neglect your family will mitigate.

I learnt everyone, even the CEO of any firm is dispensable. I worked with great editor-in- chiefs, and witnessed many get kicked out unceremoniously. Some, shamefully frog marched out by security like common toilet paper thieves.

I learnt, sometime to remove you, the employer can kick you out so hard it breaks your spirit. And they don't care. Reuters almost broke mine.

Always, and always remember this is a job. Its not a relationship. Always look at the possibility of changing your job, before the company gets rid of you.

I learnt not to be comfortable: Be involved in your industry. Notice trends. Notice when your company doesnt pay dividents 3 years in a row. Or when its opening new branches all over.

For my MM colleagues, the need for media is still there. Companies need journalists to write good stories about them. Or take good photographs. But media positions as we know them today are becoming extinct. Things change. be part of that change.

Cry a little. If you must, dust yourself and get back up on that horse as soon as possible. Spend as little time as possible mourning. For time and tide wait for no man.

Its nothing personal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top