The AFL and its clubs are reaching out to sponsors in a bid to keep stood down staff employed.
As the suspended AFL scrambles for survival amid the coronavirus, the league’s 18 clubs have been ordered to lay off up to 80 per cent of staff.
The limited number of employees who survive the cuts will be forced to work drastically reduced hours while the competition is in shutdown.
Carlton has contacted its corporate partners as part of a redeployment strategy to keep its people in work.
The Brisbane Lions have reached out to major sponsors, including XL Express and Neds, in a bid to keep its staff out of Centrelink queues.
The AFL itself is working behind the scenes with its corporate partners, including Coles, Toyota and NAB, to ease the pain on some of the 80 per cent of staff it has been forced to stand down.
In a letter last night sent to the Carlton in Business Network and the club’s corporate and commercial partners, Blues president Mark LoGiudice went in to bat for staff lost from all facets of the business.
“We are intent on helping our people through this unprecedented period as best we possibly can. We understand that times are tough for everyone, however there will be certain organisations and industries that can utilise skilled staff,” LoGiudice wrote.
“Should your business or anyone you know have the necessity, or capacity, to assist in this area we would welcome the opportunity for potential redeployment or temporary secondment for our staff of whom will be on stand down provisions.
“This could be on a casual or part-time basis and we will work with you to find a solution that works for you.
“Our incredibly talented and hard-working people are ready to assist across areas such as: Digital, design, telemarketing, sales, administration support, finance/accounting, marketing, copywriting and proof reading, HR administration, membership retention and retail and stocktaking.”
The AFL and the AFL Players’ Association remain at loggerheads over an appropriate pay cut percentage for the game’s 850 players.
The AFLPA put forward a proposal to take a 50 per cent pay cut for the next two months, but the AFL is pushing for an 80 per cent cut and for a longer period.
The competition has been suspended until May 31 at the earliest.