Disney Company Wide Pay Freeze 2017 - Rumor True??

[TwoMisfits]

Saw this in a Deadline.com article in the comments box - anyone hear if this is true?http://deadline.com/2016/12/disney-...lion-international-doctor-strange-1201864154/

1. Anony • on Dec 4, 2016 11:35 am
   Good thing they announced a company wide salary freeze to their employees for 2017. Awesome way to treat your team.
   
   Reply
   
   
2. Anonymous • on Dec 4, 2016 5:20 pm
   Yes, I’ve worked for the Mouse for a couple decades and watched them implement many layoffs during that time when they were flourishing and sitting on a lot of cash. Walt never would have done that. Shareholder accountability isn’t always a fair and conciencious big picture excuse…

 

[rteetz]

Haven't heard anything. Does this apply to Bob too?... I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

 

[dlavender]

Since they pay 20% below industry average across the board to begin with....Not really surprised.

 

[loutoo]

...Walt never would have done that. Shareholder accountability isn’t always a fair and conciencious big picture excuse…

Clearly the original author of this is not that familiar with the early history of his company. pay inequity, labor disputes, and strikes were as much a problem under Walt as they are today. probably more so.

As to the truth of an unsubstantiated rumor from from the comment section of a third party story, who has any idea.

If it were actually true I would have expected I reliable source to report it.

 

[loutoo]

Since they pay 20% below industry average across the board to begin with....Not really surprised.

I'm curious as to what information this statement is based on. as I understand it starring base pay at wdw for full Time workers is $10.00/ hr under the current union contract. that isnt incredible, but it is more than the competition starts at. plus it is union so it goes up with time of service. as for professional positions inside disney, I quick survey of glass door and similar sites seems to place them as competitive at least on salary with good pension and 401k programs.

 

[rteetz]

Clearly the original author of this is not that familiar with the early history of his company. pay inequity, labor disputes, and strikes were as much a problem under Walt as they are today. probably more so.

As to the truth of an unsubstantiated rumor from from the comment section of a third party story, who has any idea.

If it were actually true I would have expected I reliable source to report it.

Of course, as they happen with almost all companies at some point in their history. They are still going on too, for example the recent Ohare airport worker strike.

This is the rumors board where speculation is allowed. We don't know if the source is reliable or not.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Right, I have no idea - I thought since Rteetz hadn't posted it, it probably wasn't true, but then again, the poster of the comment seemed confident...was wondering if someone like accounting would know but not be allowed to leak the info until "x" time, but this poster couldn't help himself...

Was also wondering if maybe it only applied to the movies department (if it was true)...or to salaried people (and not hourly)...

 

[dlavender]

I'm curious as to what information this statement is based on. as I understand it starring base pay at wdw for full Time workers is $10.00/ hr under the current union contract. that isnt incredible, but it is more than the competition starts at. plus it is union so it goes up with time of service. as for professional positions inside disney, I quick survey of glass door and similar sites seems to place them as competitive at least on salary with good pension and 401k programs.

My information is dated, to be fair. It's based off my experience going to school in central FL and the information studied at that time. Indeed salary information shows them about 10% below market average.

 

[sachilles]

What Industry is being used as the benchmark? I'm guessing if it's theme park industry, the average is likely to be whatever Disney pays, as they likely employ the most theme park employees in the area.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Since they pay 20% below industry average across the board to begin with....Not really surprised.

Nobody should be surprised...even if it puts a bit of a "tinge" on your excitement for the upcoming trip in only 794 days

 

[lockedoutlogic]

What Industry is being used as the benchmark? I'm guessing if it's theme park industry, the average is likely to be whatever Disney pays, as they likely employ the most theme park employees in the area.

Good point...but when a large part of you're workforce are within striking distance of the subliving standard minimum wage...

...does it really matter who your measuring stick is?

The stick is still the minimum wage.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm curious as to what information this statement is based on. as I understand it starring base pay at wdw for full Time workers is $10.00/ hr under the current union contract. that isnt incredible, but it is more than the competition starts at. plus it is union so it goes up with time of service. as for professional positions inside disney, I quick survey of glass door and similar sites seems to place them as competitive at least on salary with good pension and 401k programs.

Florida has a higher minimum than federal now...

But...they have multiple unions that negotiate independently with disney...and they all are a patchwork of conflicting interests and representation.

And raises are few and far between and generally they are small. And often really low top out caps.

Florida is a "right to work" state...which in Laymans terms means you have limited rights to defend yourself.

Such is life. It would be like me saying I'm saving 1,000 jobs but ignoring that 700 are being eliminated anyway..."partial" drowning

 

[sachilles]

Good point...but when a large part of you're workforce are within striking distance of the subliving standard minimum wage...

...does it really matter who your measuring stick is?

The stick is still the minimum wage.

That's more of conversation for a different forum. It's a chicken and egg thing.

Some say a company should have to pay a "livable wage", yet we have a minimum wage that may be below that line. Is the problem that they are not payed enough, or that it costs too much to live in that part of the world?
Regardless of the root cause. I think it's fair to say the service industry isn't one where many people grow their life savings.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That's more of conversation for a different forum. It's a chicken and egg thing.

Some say a company should have to pay a "livable wage", yet we have a minimum wage that may be below that line. Is the problem that they are not payed enough, or that it costs too much to live in that part of the world?
Regardless of the root cause. I think it's fair to say the service industry isn't one where many people grow their life savings.

I get your point...no doubt...

My inference is to not indicate my labor views...more like to say that "but they pay more than____" doesn't really apply as a disney defense. That is off the table here.

The bar is low...not that it necessarily shouldn't be...

But I like to remind everyone buying vacations at prices (me included) that continue to skyrocket that it doesn't "trickle down"...

...so who gets it?

Morale of the story is: don't buy after hours magic

 

[RobertUpland]

I've recently been thru the casting process at WDW. I could give some general insight into what the hiring pattern is at the moment but I don't wanna violate any rules. I will say that casting was pretty steady when I was there.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I've recently been thru the casting process at WDW. I could give some general insight into what the hiring pattern is at the moment but I don't wanna violate any rules. I will say that casting was pretty steady when I was there.

It always is...the turn over is notoriously, consistently high

 

[Missyrose]

I'm curious as to what information this statement is based on. as I understand it starring base pay at wdw for full Time workers is $10.00/ hr under the current union contract. that isnt incredible, but it is more than the competition starts at. plus it is union so it goes up with time of service. as for professional positions inside disney, I quick survey of glass door and similar sites seems to place them as competitive at least on salary with good pension and 401k programs.

Yes but Disney keeps finding ways to NOT hire full-timers. By upping the college programs and part-time/seasonal worker staffs, there are fewer and fewer actual full-timers that Disney employs.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Yes but Disney keeps finding ways to NOT hire full-timers. By upping the college programs and part-time/seasonal worker staffs, there are fewer and fewer actual full-timers that Disney employs.

well...I can only say how that differs from some
Event of the past.

Evil michael - the worst of everything imaginable - went a different route late in his tenure...they nearly eliminated the part timers in favor of a slightly smaller full time force.

Lots of economics in that...certainly they gutted what being a real CM felt like from 1994 ish to about 2005...just another job

But...in consideration of the immense and increasingly catastrophic nature of health costs on everyone...more part time is probably more detrimental on the whole.

 

[sachilles]

With full timers comes the risk of overtime.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

With full timers comes the risk of overtime.

That is a consideration...but it's more the health care.

Theyre dumping employees onto the government by doing part timers...no doubt.

The corporate loophole abuse of the system because they didn't go far enough.

I've seen it personally: using the 30 hour minimum as an excuse to slash benefits with a million excuses built in.

I saw a well respected company who had always provided real great, affordable healthcare (and well designed plans based out of California) for 17 hours and above per week send out a letter saying "in the line with the ACA we are now going to 30"

...which isn't what it said at all.

But they made an estimated $50 mil annually in savings and those that were affected were by and large dumped onto a public bill somewhere.

No bennies for 4 day a weekers at THE WORLD...don't discount that.