iHeartMedia has announced it will extend the furloughs it initiated at the end of March for an additional 90 days.
In a memo to employees, Chief People Officer Lorna Hagen noted “the lockdown of businesses and communities across the country due to the COVID-19 virus and related restrictions has lasted far longer than anticipated and has had a significant impact on advertising revenue.” She stated that due to those impacts the company would not be returning to full office staffing levels for some time. Those effected by the first round on furloughs, which effected many departments including promotions, engineering, production, and others, will now be out of work through the end of September. This does not affect the two weeks of unpaid furlough all other salaried employees were required to take starting at the end of April.
iHeart joins Beasley Media, which extended its furloughs through the end of the year, in extending its furloughs.
The memo from Hagen follows:
Team,
As we’re sure you’ve read, the lockdown of businesses and communities across the country due to the COVID-19 virus and related restrictions has lasted far longer than anticipated and has had a significant impact on advertising revenue. Although we as a company are beginning to return to the office in a very limited way, due to these business circumstances, we will not return to full office staffing levels for some time.
As a result of these longer than expected impacts, a number of companies are extending employee furloughs – and unfortunately we will be doing so as well, extending your furlough period for another 90 days. We continue to expect that the furlough, which began on April 4, 2020, will be temporary. We know this is not what you hoped to hear, nor is it what we had hoped to do.
We consider you an important part of iHeart, and we will continue to offer medical, dental, and vision benefits to you, as we have done, through this extended furlough period. Please note that there are important updates to your eligibility for iHeartMedia’s Short and Long-Term Disability Plans, and the Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Plans which are included in the attached addendum to the Temporary Leave Guide.
Be assured that should the situation change and point to a speedier economic recovery or staffing need, we will notify you and bring you back as soon as we can. If anything changes with you, or if we can offer any guidance or assistance, please contact us at [email protected]. If your employment is currently terminable at will, this notice does not affect that status.
We are truly sorry that you have to go through this. We know these are tough times and we very much appreciate your hanging in there with us.
Thank you.
Lorna Hagen
