Kevin Roberts apology: Cricket Australia boss responds to angry staff
Cricket Australia’s under fire CEO Kevin Roberts has made an incredible admission in an apology to 200 staff members who say they felt pressured the stand down. READ THE APOLOGY
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Kevin Roberts offered a mea culpa to Cricket Australia staff as anger around his decision to enforce mass stand downs left many bitter at their treatment and questioning the game’s leadership.
Speaking by video the chief executive, who is dealing with hostile staff, players and states, said he got the process wrong but did not admit it was wrong in standing down an estimated 200 staff at head office on just 20 per cent pay.
Roberts twice apologised personally and on behalf of the executive general management team.
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According to staff the CEO said they had “underestimated the surprise and negative impact on people” adding that in hindsight they “didn’t spend long enough giving background”.
“I apologise for not taking another five days explaining why stand downs were required,” Roberts is reported to have said. “I apologise on behalf of the executive team.”
Staff were shocked when they learned two weeks ago that the business was in trouble, reporting that briefings to that period had given little indication of what was ahead.
Cricket Australia remained adamant the staff should have known what was coming.
The state associations remain stunned at the level of cuts across at head office and staff struggle to understand why it was necessary, but Roberts appeared to stand by the decision.
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“We had all the details, we should have shared it,” he said.
The apology follows a staff survey conducted by head office and comes amid reports some employees are questioning the legality of the move to stand them down and have taken legal advice.
Staff were informed cuts were coming on the Thursday and informed who would be stood down the following day. They were sent an email with an attachment that would enable any JobKeeper claim should the company be eligible and another that laid out their changed work conditions which they had to sign.
Staff told The Australian they felt under pressure to sign, but a Cricket Australia spokesperson said there was wholesale acceptance of the measure “reflected their trust and commitment to cricket regardless of how they felt about it personally”.
The details of staff meetings have leaked to the media but Roberts said he would continue to use the regular sessions.
South Australia is the only state association that has seen necessary to stand down staff in the same manner and some states believe they will not have to follow suit, suggesting head office over reacted.
Roberts is yet to convince the states or the players association that the current position is as dire as he claims.
The states pushed back against 45% cuts to their revenue this summer but look to have settled on accepting a 25% cut but they and the players are awaiting more financial details before any deals are done.