WBFO's Mike Desmond gets done dirty

[ckg279]

If you're wondering why you haven't heard Mike Desmond on WBFO in recent months, Alan Pergament provides the answer in today's Buffalo News. (I can't link to it because...you know, PAYWALL.) Long story short, Desmond alleges that WBFO fired him a few months ago while he was out on disability leave. (I'm not sure if he's filed a lawsuit in the matter or not.)

Margaret Sullivan(who used to work at the News many a year ago and still comments on the media)linked to the story on her Twitter feed, and former colleagues of his(ranging from Omar Fetouh to Nicholas Lippa)have chimed in with support; so, too, has Investigative Post's J. Dale Shoemaker.

 

[tbolt909]

It's not illegal to terminate someone while on Disability Leave, so suing would be futile. Most employment is "At Will" meaning either party can sever the relationship. Radio contracts are essentially "written in sand" and always favour the employer. Their lawyers carefully scrutinize each word. Lifetime employment with a promise of a pension is not realistic for most folks anymore. Most Radio veterans knew the score when they chose that career path...

 

[Rusty Bridges]

It's not illegal to terminate someone while on Disability Leave, so suing would be futile. Most employment is "At Will" meaning either party can sever the relationship. Radio contracts are essentially "written in sand" and always favour the employer. Their lawyers carefully scrutinize each word. Lifetime employment with a promise of a pension is not realistic for most folks anymore. Most Radio veterans knew the score when they chose that career path...

There's the letter of the law and there's the spirit of the law. The letter of the law is on WBFO's side, but in Desmond's case, the brass at Buffalo-Toronto Media kicked the spirit of the law in the groin and threw it to the curb.

True, people get fired every day in the media business, sometimes for cause. This wasn't the case with Desmond. The guy was a workhorse. Not the most mellifluous on the air, but when he reported, you knew you were getting the facts. Straight up. Unvarnished.

If Desmond's account of his termination is true, and there's no reason to believe it isn't, the suits at WBFO look like corporate goons. For years, the word in this market was that Channel 17 and it's radio stations were top heavy with plenty of highly paid suits and big titles; meanwhile, the men and women in the trenches made the place work.

Desmond, a guy who had produced years of quality reporting, gets blown out while out on disability by way of an email. "We regret to inform you..." Let's be clear, there's little if any regret or concern for the human side of this. It's all about the money. And yes, public media is a business, and ledgers need to be balanced, but the manner of terminating Desmond reeks of cowardice and corporate power-play.

You'd think one of the suits would at least have called Desmond and had a respectful person-to-person conversation ... it is after all, the communications business. "Hello Mike, how are you? We hope your health is improving. This is a difficult call to make, but I wanted to speak to you in person rather than sending an email or letter..." But no, instead he gets an email and letter from his insurance company.

As they say in the corporate PR reclamation business, "It's not a good look." But maybe this is the way it was done at MTV and VH1. Helluva plantation y'got there on Church Street, folks.

 

[tbolt909]

Rusty, unfortunately many high quality professionals get treated this way. It's not limited to Radio. I'm not saying it's right or decent. Higher priced experienced talent get replaced by cheaper green college grads. I've known people who were on vacation when they got a call saying "Don't bother rushing back, we're going in another direction and you're not part of it". I'm sure you're aware that the Grand Canyon sized pay gulf between CEOs and workers is at an all time high...

 

[Mark1981]

Many of you know who I am. I’ve been critical of WBFO’s cutbacks in its local coverage over the past year. Yet, I was hesitant to publicly criticize management under by full name — until tonight. I went on my Facebook page and called out management for this unconscionable decision. Mike Desmond was responsible for recording the video of the Martin Gugino incident during the George Floyd protests in 2020. It received tens of millions of views from people around the world. It put WBFO in the global spotlight! Less than three years later, Mike finds out he’s lost his job in a letter from his health insurance company. How utterly appalling!

 

[tbolt909]

The story says Desmond is 78 years old. That's well beyond the normal retirement age(unless one is running for President). Getting old and sick is expensive. The US Healthcare system is still tied to employment, so situations like his are common...

 

[Newsradioguy]

The story says Desmond is 78 years old. That's well beyond the normal retirement age(unless one is running for President). Getting old and sick is expensive. The US Healthcare system is still tied to employment, so situations like his are common...

WBFO these days wants to be young, hip, and diverse. An “old white guy” doesn’t fit anymore with what they want their image to be. Experience means nothing to them. Mike is as sharp as ever. This is nothing short of ageism. It’s been a trend in that building in recent years.

 

[tbolt909]

WBFO these days wants to be young, hip, and diverse. An “old white guy” doesn’t fit anymore with what they want their image to be. Experience means nothing to them. Mike is as sharp as ever. This is nothing short of ageism. It’s been a trend in that building in recent years.

Maybe so, but age discrimination is rampant. Female TV anchors get replaced when "their looks fade". Seasoned journalists are a dying breed. The Bean Counters have always known "The cost of everything and the value of nothing". Oscar Wilde...

 

[bigdonho]

Seems there is always someone out there who will do twice the work for half the money.

 

[TheBigA]

The story says Desmond is 78 years old. That's well beyond the normal retirement age(unless one is running for President). Getting old and sick is expensive. The US Healthcare system is still tied to employment, so situations like his are common...

However, at that age, he qualifies for Medicare, and most employers will encourage those who qualify to switch to Medicare when they can. One doesn't have to be retired, or even receive social security in order to be covered by Medicare.

 

[RadioGuy1864]

Seems there is always someone out there who will do twice the work for half the money.

Don't know about that any more, with today's labor shortage. Half the money, probably, twice the work, probably not.

 

[bigdonho]

I believe you must take Medicare at 65 and Social Security at 70 1/2. Let's face it, would it be kinder to fire someone with Social Security and Medicare or someone in their 30s with a wife and two kids?

 

[TheBigA]

I believe you must take Medicare at 65

Nope. Not if you have an accredited health care plan at work.

Technically, it is not mandatory to sign up for Medicare at 65 or at any age, for that matter. But it’s important to consider the situations in which you might decide not to enroll in Medicare at 65 so that you can make sure not to have any lapse in health insurance coverage or face a Medicate late enrollment penalty.

Once a person leaves a job that had healthcare, they get a form from their employer to avoid a penalty from Medicare.

 

[Mark1981]

Seeing all this crap about Mike’s age and how he qualified for Medicare and Social Security is pure bulls**t! Me? I got to retire from full time work in broadcasting at 55. I spent another ten years working part-time until retiring for good at 65. But that was what was good for me. Frankly, I don’t know why Mike continued to work into his late 70s. BUT THAT WAS HIS CHOICE! And he was damned good at it! His video footage of the Martin Gugino incident in 2020 was viewed by tens of millions of people around the world. No one — and I mean no one — on this board can make that same claim. None of us can say that anything we ever did was heard or viewed by that many people. So spare me your stupid opinions that he was 78 or that he qualified for Social Security and Medicare or that it was better to fire him than a 30 year old with a wife and kids. IT DOESN’T MATTER! Mike chose to work. WBFO and its listeners benefited from the two reports he filed each and every morning. And the fact he was so heartlessly dismissed by a public broadcasting entity is unconscionable! END OF DISCUSSION!

 

[KurtLockport]

WEBR is hiring, maybe he should apply.

 

[TheBigA]

So spare me your stupid opinions that he was 78 or that he qualified for Social Security and Medicare or that it was better to fire him than a 30 year old with a wife and kids. IT DOESN’T MATTER! Mike chose to work.

Yes he chose to work, but then was out on disability. That complicates things on both sides. If he has in fact been terminated, then he should be able to receive COBRA, which is a continuation of his health insurance, that he pays for rather than the company. Was that offered or not? It wasn't mentioned in the article.

Understanding COBRA Health Insurance: Eligibility, Benefits, and Costs

Learn how COBRA insurance keeps you covered after job loss. Understand eligibility, benefits, costs, and how COBRA compares to other options.

www.investopedia.com

Reading the article, it sounds to me like there's a lot more to the story.

 

[tbolt909]

Seeing all this crap about Mike’s age and how he qualified for Medicare and Social Security is pure bulls**t! Me? I got to retire from full time work in broadcasting at 55. I spent another ten years working part-time until retiring for good at 65. But that was what was good for me. Frankly, I don’t know why Mike continued to work into his late 70s. BUT THAT WAS HIS CHOICE! And he was damned good at it! His video footage of the Martin Gugino incident in 2020 was viewed by tens of millions of people around the world. No one — and I mean no one — on this board can make that same claim. None of us can say that anything we ever did was heard or viewed by that many people. So spare me your stupid opinions that he was 78 or that he qualified for Social Security and Medicare or that it was better to fire him than a 30 year old with a wife and kids. IT DOESN’T MATTER! Mike chose to work. WBFO and its listeners benefited from the two reports he filed each and every morning. And the fact he was so heartlessly dismissed by a public broadcasting entity is unconscionable! END OF DISCUSSION!

Not sure if you are friends with him, but your angry response indicates that you might be. Nobody is guaranteed lifetime employment when working for someone else. You can make the case that his termination could have been handled better (if indeed he found out via email). Very few people leave the Corporate world with a Gold Watch and a dinner party anymore...