The Royal Media Services Limited (RMS) has sent home sports and business journalists in the radio broadcasting division as the company implements precautionary measures after Kenya confirmed three cases of the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Several sports and business journalists affirmed that they were directed to work from home after being issued with a notice. The decision by RMS editorial comes two days after President Uhuru Kenyatta called upon organisations to allow employees to work from home.
“All sports news across all the stations have been scrapped for now. We will only run the main news bulletins. Should there be a weighty sports item worth airtime then it will be slotted in the main bulletins (news),” a communication from the broadcaster sent to reporters on WhatsApp reads in part.
RMS becomes among the first companies in Kenya to allow staff members to work from home. Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Hitachi, Apple, Amazon and Spotify are among some of the international companies that rolled out mandatory work-from-home policies amid the spread of the Covid-19.
“Sports reporters and anchors will be required to work from home (unless assigned other roles in Programming). This, however, does not mean that you switch off your phones or become unreachable. We still have news sections to update,” the communication to reporters adds.
Interns attached at the organisation were also directed to work from home as the firm resorted to communicating digitally through social media sites such as WhatsApp.
“Let’s all keep safe and live healthily. Should you feel unwell or suspect you may have exposed yourself to Covid-19 virus, feel free to contact the firm for urgent help,” journalists were advised.
“We were asked to work from home and to constantly communicate with our heads of departments. I am at home right now and looking forward to adapting to this new strategy,” one journalist disclosed.
Sources at the broadcaster also revealed that RMS was planning a more comprehensive safety plan for all the reporters and anchors who will still be at work.
*Kenyans.co.ke
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