Old Mutual launch witch-hunt over sit-in

Old Mutual Zimbabwe staff are living in fear after management launched a witch-hunt on employees who staged a sit-in on July 9, Zim Morning Post has learnt. 

The employees engaged in collective job action demanding audience with management in Harare over the reduction in salaries after a pay review structure.

Employees were miffed that the decision came at a time when government was appealing for private companies to increase the salaries of their employees and when the cost of living had spiralled out control. 

Last week management of the leading global financial institution sent out a letter to employees requesting “detailed reports” on who said what and when during the July 9 sit-in. 

“Following the incident of the 9th of July 2019 when our employees engaged in a sit –in (collective job action), we are instituting further investigations into the conduct of our employees,” Od Mutual management said in an email letter titled Urgent Reports On Collective Job Action Of Events Of The 9th July.

“We are therefore requesting all your staff members who took part in the collective job action to write detailed reports (statements) on what happened.  Those who have already submitted statements must also resubmit the statements in the format below.

The report must contain the following: Who (Name) advised them to go to the canteen. What time did he/she make the announcement? What were the exact words that were said by the person? Who else was present when the invitation was made? What was said and by whom while in the canteen? How long did you spend in the canteen?”

Old Mutual Zimbabwe added that the reports must be submitted to the line manager by 4pm July 26. 

Employees who spoke to Zim Morning Post said they were living in fear while others indicated that some of their colleagues had already been suspended. 

Old Mutual Zimbabwe have maintained that they are restructuring business in line with the obtaining operating environment in a bid to maximise cost efficiencies.

The institution has also been among the few  companies who have moved to offer hardship allowances to their employees.