SB Nation Hit Hard As Vox Media Furloughs Staffers For Three Months
Vox Media furloughed more than 100 employees on Friday. The company currently employs about 1,200 people and is reportedly letting about nine percent of its staff go for three months. SB Nation appears to have been hit particularly hard.
Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff, announced the moves in a memo to the staff on Friday. Some remaining employees will have reduced hours during the next three months, but Vox will continue to cover the health benefits of the impacted employees. Bankoff announced he and president Pam Wasserstein would take 50 percent pay reductions, while various other high-paid staffers will be taking pay cuts as well.
The Vox Media Union won a number of concessions for its workers before they were furloughed so that's a silver lining for the people now without work:
Our wins for furloughed employees include:
— Vox Media Union (@vox_union) April 17, 2020
—Full cost of health insurance paid for, with copays and deductibles reimbursed, during furlough
—Buyout option that adds 4 weeks of severance to our CBA-guaranteed severance
—A guarantee that they will not be replaced by contractors
Some of SB Nation's most recognizable voices took to Twitter to announce they had been furloughed. A lot of really talented writers will be looking for work in the next three months:
to clarify: I've been furloughed for three months by @voxmedia
— BUM CHILLUPS (@edsbs) April 17, 2020
Sup pals, Vox Media is 3-month furloughing me and many of my most-talented, hardest-working friends
— Jason Kirk (@thejasonkirk) April 17, 2020
Starting May 1, if you have any writing/editing/podcasting/othercasting/other you'd like me to pitch in on (cfb, other sports, not sports at all), DMs & jasonekirk@gmail.com open
So I'm one of the SB Nation staffers furloughed for three months starting May 1 (with more than a little uncertainty about what comes next); mostly hurting for my colleagues, who work harder than anyone and whose many years of loyalty to the site are being repaid this way.
— Natalie Weiner (@natalieweiner) April 17, 2020
Starting May 1, I'll be on a three-month furlough, along with a lot of great coworkers.
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) April 17, 2020
I have cried at my desk a lot this week. It's not bc I'm sad, but because the way my @vox_union family and friends all across the company fought together was so overwhelming. They're amazing
I've been furloughed for three months starting May 1 along with many of my immensely talented colleagues. I love SB Nation a lot. richardpodonnell@gmail.com if you want to get at me.
— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) April 17, 2020
I'll be taking an unpaid vacation from SB Nation. They don't know if I'm coming back, and neither do I.
— Subscribe to Extra Points (@MattBrownEP) April 17, 2020
As of right now, I'm a freelance free agent. If you'd like to collaborate on something, college sports related or not, my DMs are open.
i'm one of those furloughed at sb nation
— Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) April 17, 2020
ive spent more time crying this week than i have in a long time
this place has been my only professional home and i never wanted to leave it. the people here mean so much to me
i have no idea what comes next
ill be ok, though
I am one of the people @voxmedia will be furloughing for 3 months starting on May 1.
— Mike Prada. I have spoken (@MikePradaNBA) April 17, 2020
I don't know what the future holds for me or @SBNation, but I'm so proud of the work we do. I hope you like it too, and it'd mean a lot to me if you shared that publicly.
Love you all
Well, cat's out of the bag. I am also one of the many SB Nation staffers being furloughed for three months starting May 1 by Vox Media. If anyone wants to hang or collaborate from then through July 31, DMs open and I'm at moriarty343@gmail.com
— Morgan Moriarty (@Morgan_Moriarty) April 17, 2020
If you've heard about the furloughs at SB Nation and Vox Media today, well, I'm one of them. I've worked here for 12 years. I used to write articles for this company from the alley I lived in outside a McDonald (free Wifi) when I was homeless.
— James Brady (@jamesbradyisme) April 17, 2020
A lot of feelings right now.
oh yeah, also furloughed.
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) April 17, 2020
it sucks, but it could be worse if not for @vox_union
love you, @SBNation colleagues
DMs open. looking forward to piloting my boat to drinkin' island tonight