More on the Layoffs

[DVC-Landbaron]

As many of you know David Koenig writes for Mouse Planet. He has some interesting quotes from CMs regarding the way the layoffs are being handled.

Koenig's Story

I know that layoffs aren't fun no matter what the company. And I further realize that layoffs are happening all over and are a part of life. But I do have two thoughts on this. First I think, IF the stories are to be believed, it should be handled a little better. And second, I can't help thinking that if it were not for so many recent missteps by management, how many layoffs would really have had to be. How many jobs could have been saved by stopping the GO.COM nonsense, for instance?

Just some thoughts.

 

[DisDuck]

First off this story is visually a repeat of the one about Universal Orlando and it just announced layoff. They too called people in on day-off, stood over them at desk, escorted out the door and in one reported case only allowed a quick hug between someone staying and someone leaving.

I don't think any layoff has a good story to tell. There is no 'good' way to handle it. Especially those who were laid-off will only have horror stories. I know on my last consulting job when I was called in to be told contract terminated they had all sorts of excuses why it was being done. The bottom line was the fall guy for my immediate managers screw-up. So yes inessence some of those laid-off at Disney are because of go.com but others are just due to the current economic state and the need at all businesses to reduce expenses.

I don't see anyone writing laid-off stories about AT&T for example. Nothing in my papers and alot of AT&T workers in NJ.

So Disney had to do it and it isn't pleasant for those who were chosen. Can't be helped sometimes. Plus escorting, etc. has to be done in order to protect against worker doing damage to get back.

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

I guess it was this one that really got me:

The studio had a barbecue party and during the festivities, a manager read off a list of names and asked them to meet him on the side. He then told them they were laid off. Yeah, I just feel the love.

Somehow I expected more from Disney. I guess I shouldn't be surprised though.

I don't see anyone writing laid-off stories about AT&T for example.

Well, there may be. I don't usually log on to AT&T web sites. Do you? No. I only follow the Disney Company. To me, perhaps because of the way it started and the founder's principles and philosophy, it was always something special. I guess that is simply not true anymore. They're just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill company today. How sad.

Nothing in my papers and alot of AT&T workers in NJ.

Just goes to show how extraordinary people think Disney is. But they proved once again that they are not. Again, how sad.

 

[F.C. Fan]

I've seen Tech TV, and other business news programs do lengthy stories on tech companies large or small, and how they lay off their workers. I've also seen news stories from the former employees point of view.

I just feel that since Disney is a household word + the fact that they're a entertainment giant they get alot more spotlight, and attention.