The Agency Group has announced a raft of business continuity measures to ensure staff retention during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Noting the measures had been welcomed by the vast majority of its staff, they said the initiatives would have no impact on group’s ability to deliver industry-leading real estate services to its clients, property agents, home buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants.
“As the Managing Director of The Agency I am tasked with protecting the business and its staff, and it is clear that there is a need for immediate measures to ensure our company continues to meet its goal of delivering industry-leading real estate services,” The Agency Group Managing Director, Paul Niardone said.
“We do not want to follow the example of other large companies and stand down the workforce to ride this crisis out.
“We want to avoid staff reduction as much as possible and avoid causing anyone the additional stress of having to find a job in what is already a trying time. What we do want to do is work together to ensure that we support each other and remain in employment.”
Mr Niardone said the measures were not just about ensuring the business and all its staff could successfully navigate this period of uncertainty, but that it used this time to reinforce systems and practices and ensure they were well-positioned “to take advantage of what in time will become an improving market”.
Effective mid-April 2020 all non-commissioned staff will temporarily have working hours reduced in line with reduced workloads as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative impact it is having on the Australian real estate sector.
The amount of reduction will be at management’s discretion and scaled if need be over time to be aligned with economic conditions or government restrictions.
“Pleasingly, the vast majority of our staff have responded positively to these measures and have, as we have, wanted to show commitment to each other and the wider The Agency Group,” Mr Niardone said.
“The recent outbreak of COVID-19 globally is testing every part of the community, which is now living through one of the greatest periods of economic and social upheaval. The Agency Group is not immune from this impact.
“This downward trend in buyer sentiment is expected to be sustained for the foreseeable future as State and Federal Governments enforce measures to curb the spread of the virus, which include restrictions on travel and organised gatherings.
“By implementing these initiatives, the Company now has the flexibility to follow any new government measures while maintaining everyone’s employment.”
The Agency CEO Matt Lahood stressed the value of team they have established.
“We are so proud of the loyal and talented team we have built here at The Agency, our success to date has been achieved by this valuable team,” Mr Lahood said.
“Our top priority is working to keep the team together, safe and secure. “
The Agency also applauded the Federal Government’s recently announced “JobKeeper” program, which will see eligible employers paid $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee.
“This new initiative will assist us in keeping our team employed and potentially lessen the time they will be working to reduced hours,” Mr Niardone added.
