Report: NPR Moves to Reduce Employee Pay During Outbreak

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, May 8, 2020

NPR

NPR will temporarily reduce employee compensation as its management moves to cut spending in response to a projected budget deficit during the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Current.org's Tyler Falk. Under an agreement ratified by members of NPR's SAG-AFTRA union, employee salaries will be reduced on a sliding scale beginning next week, with a maximum cut of 9%. The move does not affect staffers making less than $80,000. NPR is also ending contributions to its employee retirement plan. The reductions will continue September, the end NPR's fiscal year.

Last month, NPR CEO John Lansing took a 25% pay reduction for the remainder of the fiscal year. Members of NPR's executive committee also agreed to a 15% pay reduction, and other VPs received a 10% cut. NPR also eliminated executive bonuses for the fiscal year.

Under its deal with SAG-AFTRA, Current reports that NPR agreed not to lay off employees for financial reasons through this fiscal year. The agreement includes optional furloughs for those employees who choose to take a week off without pay.