Furloughed workers to join back AEG fold



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AEG to begin rehiring furloughed workers Image: AEG Europe

The world’s leading sports and live entertainment company – Los Angeles (US)-headquartered AEG – who is also the world’s second largest concert promoter – and owner of marquee properties like Coachella, the 20,000-capacity Staples Center in Los Angeles and the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena in London (where it has a 100-year lease) – is rehiring furloughed workers who were temporarily laid off last year when COVID-19 brought disaster to the world – as it prepares for the return of concerts.

‘Billboard’ stated that AEG has begun bringing back part-time and full-time employees who had been furloughed or saw their hours reduced during the pandemic with the first phase of employees to rejoin their duties on April 1st, 2021.

AEG Chief Executive Dan Beckerman wrote to employees in an email dated March 22nd which read, “During the next six months, as our business ramps up, we will begin bringing all of you back full time at full salary.”

The email further read, “Because parts of our business continue to face uncertainties before life returns to normal, some of you will come back before others. However, barring any setbacks, we expect everyone will return to work at full pay no later than October 1st, 2021. In the weeks ahead, you will be contacted by your HR Manager as to how these changes will impact you.”

‘Billboard’ further stated that the second phase of rehiring involves full-time employees who were moved to part-time status. Those employees will be returned to full-time status starting April 1st with the entire exercise expected to be completed by June 1st. The third and final tier involves employees that were furloughed during the pandemic and are now expected to return to work full-time in the Fall.

AEG confirmed “That the company has distributed an outline for a full re-emergence from our COVID-related workforce plan and look forward to welcoming back all affected employees over the coming months.”

Both AEG and its chief competitor, Live Nation, resorted to deep layoffs and furloughs during COVID-19 outbreak last year as both companies braced themselves for a year without live entertainment and significant erosion in revenue earnings. Live Nation has made several rounds of layoffs and furloughs affecting thousands of employees.

Approximately, 2,300 full-time jobs have been permanently cut, according to the company’s annual reports from 2019, where it reported employing 10,500 full-time employees, compared to the end of 2020 when it reported 8,200 full-time employees including those on furlough.

AEG made the majority of its layoffs and furloughs on June 8th, 2020 following across-the-board salary reductions for employees in April 2020. The company has not provided any figures on how many employees were affected by layoffs and furloughs.

Live Nation has not spelt out details regarding its rehiring plan, but Live Nation CEO and President Michael Rapino did tell investors on a March investor call that the company plans to begin staffing up as capacity restrictions are lifted on venues owned or leased by Live Nation.

Live Nation is an American events promoter and venue operator based in Beverly Hills, California (US).

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