The Walt Disney Company has announced that it will layoff a total of 32000 employees, which includes the previously announced 28000 at the parks, and they will primarily come from the Disney Parks, Experience, Products segment.
Prior to the September layoffs, Walt Disney World employed approximately 70,000, with Disneyland Resort employing around 30,000. The distribution of layoffs from September was approximately 18000 at Walt Disney World and 10000 at Disneyland. It isn't yet clear where the additional 4000 layoffs will take place, and if there will be any additional layoffs within the theme parks. Disney is yet to comment to any of the major news outlets.
Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World closed in mid-March as the COVID-19 impacts began, with Walt Disney World reopening in mid-July and Disneyland Resort remaining closed.
In a filing with the SEC, the company said:
Due to the current climate, including COVID-19 impacts, and changing environment in which we are operating, the Company has generated efficiencies in its staffing, including limiting hiring to critical business roles, furloughs and reductions-in-force. As part of these actions, the employment of approximately 32,000 employees primarily at Parks, Experiences and Products will terminate in the first half of fiscal 2021. Additionally, as of October 3, 2020, approximately 37,000 employees who are not scheduled for employment termination were on furlough as a result of COVID-19’s impact on our businesses.
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