Channel 7 presenter Simon Reeve’s redundancy lawsuit angers colleagues
Simon Reeve’s decision to sue Channel 7 for extra entitlements after being let go isn’t getting him much sympathy, with colleagues slamming the ‘extraordinarily well looked after’ veteran presenter as being ‘out of touch’.
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As a sea of lay-offs and redundancies continues to swallow up sections of the media, one presenter’s decision to “lawyer-up” is raising eyebrows around Channel 7’s Redfern headquarters.
Weekend Sunrise regular Simon Reeve has tapped well-known media law experts in his bid to squeeze some additional “entitlements” out of his former employers, with a statement of claim filed last week in the Federal Court.
Reeve, who began his most-recent tenure with Seven back in 2001 on the program Beyond 2000, has been something of a utility player at the network over the years having helmed shows like Quizmaster, Million Dollar Minute and It’s Academic.
His departure was allegedly deemed “unsurprising”, given Reeve has enjoyed two lucrative decades at Seven — despite the fact he lives on the Gold Coast and commutes to Sydney for work.
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Subsequently, his decision to sue for additional entitlements has some Seven staffers – many of whom are on food vouchers to help get through the COVID-19 downturn — seriously riled up.
“Simon was extraordinarily well looked after … especially considering he lives in Queensland and was being flown back and forth for work … nice work if you can get it,” sniffed one.
Another pointed out that Reeve, a long-time pal of ex-Seven boss Tim Worner after they met working together on Beyond 2000, had long enjoyed privileges few others were afforded.
“So Simon gets boned from his massive salary after 20 years of having the pick of TV while other hardworking shit-shovellers are being sacked?” another Seven staffer raged.
“The network is giving its workers $200 food vouchers … some staff are on JobKeeper. Out of touch much?”
It’s understood that when he wasn’t popping up on weekend news bulletins, Reeve enjoyed a tranquil existence at his five-bedroom, three-bathroom Gold Coast hinterland mansion located on Tallai’s notoriously swanky Wallandra Rd.
It is believed he also owns a sprawling four-bedroom unit overlooking Coogee Beach — a sticking point among former colleagues struggling to cover their rent.
Contacted for comment this week, Reeve maintained he was only seeking the same compensation as any other worker who found themselves unceremoniously booted back into the job market.
“Clearly, because of the situation at the moment, there is very little I can say,” Reeve told Confidential.
“(But) All I am asking for is nothing more than all Australian workers are entitled to … even those living on the Gold Coast.”