28,000 Domestic Disney face lay offs due to pandemic uncertainty
Today Disney announced that 28,000 domestic Disney employees face lay offs due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a post from Disney Parks chairman Josh D’Amaro he explained that the employees who will be let go will be made up by 67% part timers from across the executive, salaried and hourly cast members.
- Disney will lay off 28,000 employees across its parks, experiences and consumer products segment.
- They have blamed the prolonged closures and capacity limits at the currently open parks
The statement in full is below:
In light of the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on our business, including limited capacity due to physical distancing requirements and the continued uncertainty regarding the duration of the pandemic – exacerbated in California by the State’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen – we have made the very difficult decision to begin the process of reducing our workforce at our Parks, Experiences and Products segment at all levels, having kept non-working Cast Members on furlough since April, while paying healthcare benefits. Approximately 28,000 domestic employees will be affected, of which about 67% are part-time. We are talking with impacted employees as well as to the unions on next steps for union-represented Cast Members.
Josh D’Amaro
Over the past several months, we’ve been forced to make a number of necessary adjustments to our business, and as difficult as this decision is today, we believe that the steps we are taking will enable us to emerge a more effective and efficient operation when we return to normal. Our Cast Members have always been key to our success, playing a valued and important role in delivering a world-class experience, and we look forward to providing opportunities where we can for them to return.
Our thoughts are with all those cast members affected by the news today.
