Lew Dickey: Furlough Is A 'Shared Sacrifice'
ATLANTA -- April 29, 2009: Cumulus President/CEO Lew Dickey Jr. spoke with Radio Ink Wednesday, after word came out that the company is requiring all employees -- from himself on down -- to take five days of unpaid leave before June 1.
Dickey tells Radio Ink, "Like most other media companies, we're doing everything we can to align our fixed costs with a difficult and challenging revenue environment." The idea behind a furlough, he said, is that it's a "shared sacrifice," and it's temporary, with less of an air of permanence than a salary cut -- and it may help to avoid layoffs.
Dickey said, "This is a difficult time for our industry, all of our groups. All of our competitors are unfortunately having to do the same thing, some more than others. We're doing everything we can to maintain a full and stable base of employees." He said, "We empathise with our competitors, and certainly with our employees, for going through this."
The participation in the furlough by air talent under under contract is voluntary, but Dickey said the vast majority have already agreed to take part. He said, "We're grateful for the participation of our talent under contract in this shared sacrifice."
Salem, Beasley, Saga, Entravision, Fisher, and Journal are among the radio companies that have imposed pay cuts for some or all employees in recent months, and, of course, many companies have gone through workforce reductions as well.
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(5/4/2009 10:05:33 AM) Voluntary????? Shared Sacrafice???? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Just because the employees were FORCED to sign a piece of paper that says "I, (name of employee) voluntarily take a furlough during the week of__(date)__." Does NOT mean that this was voluntary. It was "sign it" or "don't come back to work". And though employees may not have been fired for not signing the furlough agreement, in the next couple weeks after refusing the furlough they would have found some reason to fire uncoroporative employees!! And yes, I understand that the Dickey's have to take the furlough as well, but they also aren't living check to check on some small income, Cumulus likes to call a living!!! The Dickey's make millions while talent and other employees make chicken feed. So NO it doesn't affect them as it does many other employees. So they can quit acting like they are SHARING our hardships!! It's a bunch of bull! Now I will say that this is better than the alternative like cutting wages or firing even more people!! But I feel if wiser decisions would have been made long ago than none of this would have had to happen. First Cumulus should have NEVER tried to go private!! That was the biggest and first mistake. Another greedy move by the Dickey's!! I don't have all the answers to correct the problems but obviously neither do Cumulus' CEO's and corporate managers!! |
| - SO JADED |
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(5/1/2009 11:57:21 AM) Strong opinions are welcome, but no wishes for death or destruction, please. And try to limit the name-calling! Thanks. |
| - Admin |
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(5/1/2009 8:11:09 AM) SHARED SCARFICE!!!!!! Mr. Dickey and his flunkies are morons. What sacrifices have you made? Other than giving yourself a bonus after laying off people in October. You know the people that made it possible for you to get that bonus. Are you going to have to tell your family, electric company, water company, cable company, car dealer and insurance company sorry I can’t pay you right now. I have to make a huge sacrifice so that the corporate stooges can have their bonuses. What would the Dickey’s do if every employee at cumulus walked out the door at the same time. Can they fire or layoff everyone? You and your brother are why the Unions are needed. Hope your sleeping well. EJ |
| - EJ |
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(4/30/2009 3:01:52 PM) Ok, the ostriches at Cumulus will have to come up for air sometime...Sacrifices? Everyone? Are you kidding me? Lew, be a man like some "REAL" leaders of corporations that have taken a $1 salary to save their VALUED employees financial strain and hardship. Oh, is that too much of a strain for you? Well, my kind sir, if you can't live without your millions for just one year...then you are going to hell because you are certainly not living the life God intended. Do you think this will really help? Or are you just doing a test run to see who you can afford to lay off in the 3rd quarter? Management 101, Happy employees = More production. Do you think your furloughed employees are happy? Do you think they are going to produce for you while you drive around in your expensive car? You are hurting your company even more. Angry, Jaded Employees = Poor Production. Go back to class Lew. Your taking from the little people that really keep companies like yours going, without them you would not have your millions. Video killed the radio star? I think not...his name is Lew Dickey. Lew get your head out of the sand. |
| - Imabeliever |
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(4/30/2009 2:47:53 PM) Lew, why don't you put your bonus back into the company and not hurt what's left of your staff after the last two rounds of layoffs? Your father wasn't a piggy like you, he realized that on-air talent was required to have a good radio station. |
| - Midwestern Broadcasting Toledo |
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