Really mad at Disney

[Conservative Hippie]

About two weeks ago, DH went to Disney to interview for a software programmer job. They made him an offer that was way low--way way lower than the salary range he asked for, and even a pay cut from what he is making now. He countered back with the lowest end of the original range he gave them. We just got a response back that they rejected the counter offer. I can't believe they want someone to do that job (50+ hours a week!) for so little money! I'm really mad and I don't even want to take our May trip to the parks anymore.

 

[disney ambassador]

Disney is known for their crappy pay. I love to go there and spend my money and I feel bad for the people who work there. But most people work for Disney because they love Disney or are going to college there or something like that.

As the saying goes: The rich get richer and poor get poorer.

I do feel bad for the people that work there, but they make that choice.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Sorry you feel that way, but it is still a business they are running. They made an offer which was way low to him, your hubby countered with a dollar figure that he could work for and they chose to go in another direction. Maybe they found someone else to do the job for what they were offering?

It sucks that you feel bad about it, but that's the way it works...IMHO.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I had heard the opposite about their IT department, that they pay pretty competitively. I guess it's just not true.

 

[ducklite]

I'm surprised that the lower compensation scale didn't come up during an initial phone conversation.

I think almost every job I've applied for they've asked what my salary range was before having me come in, and told me up front if they were paying below that.

Anne

 

[Bob Slydell]

Companies lowball all the time, Disney certainly is no different. Regardless of the "magic" of the theme parks, they're a Fortune 500 company first and Mickey's home second, so they're not going to make business decisions any different from any other company.

Cancelling your trip won't make it any better, IMO.

 

[ducklite]

I had heard the opposite about their IT department, that they pay pretty competitively. I guess it's just not true.

Competitive compared to??

My DH makes more than twice as much as thier top pay range for programmers. DH works for a NJ based company. He'd have to take a pay cut to work for a well-paying company around here, and working for Disney on thier pay scale is out of the question.

Anne

 

[crcormier]

The advantage Disney has is that there are people like us who would love to work for them. So when you have more people that want to work for you than other companies, you can pay less. There's really no reason to be mad at them for it though, they need to make money to pay for all the money they pour into the parks, hotels, infrastructure, R & D, etc. Just like any other company, you keep your costs as low as you can, and if you can fill jobs offering a lower salary, then you do it. It's certainly okay to be disappointed though.

 

[Hannathy]

Disney only pays what they have to. It's Business. Evidently there are more computer people in Florida than in Texas. Sorry, I guess you wanted to move to Florida and it is disappointing. But competitive to what? Florida ? New York? South Dakota? it is all variable.

Disney has NEVER payed well that I know of and I'm going back 20 yrs to a friend who worked in management for yrs. My nephew was offered a job at Disney in the accounting office after college and it wasn't worth it to him to move to FL for the amount. When they can't get people anymore they will raise it, but with all the computer people getting let go in the Midwest I wouldn't hold my breath. Friends from church are moving down in May after being downsized up here.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I'm surprised that the lower compensation scale didn't come up during an initial phone conversation.

I think almost every job I've applied for they've asked what my salary range was before having me come in, and told me up front if they were paying below that.

Anne

They did ask his salary range before he went to FL, but I guess his first questions should have been are you going to be able to pay that?

Anyway, I know cancelling our trip isn't going to make me feel better...I'm just really disappointed.

 

[crcormier]

Anyway, I know cancelling our trip isn't going to make me feel better...I'm just really disappointed.

Understandable, I would be very disappointed too. I've looked at their IT listings as well, but the pay's just not good enough to support my family. Just try to remember that they can only keep making it a magical place to visit by running a sound business first.

 

[sewer]

About two weeks ago, DH went to Disney to interview for a software programmer job. They made him an offer that was way low--way way lower than the salary range he asked for, and even a pay cut from what he is making now. He countered back with the lowest end of the original range he gave them. We just got a response back that they rejected the counter offer. I can't believe they want someone to do that job (50+ hours a week!) for so little money! I'm really mad and I don't even want to take our May trip to the parks anymore.

I'm sorry to say it, but IT jobs are a dime a dozen. I can hire a few people for what I would have paid for one years ago, and they will do their assigned work quicker, and better!

 

[Chicago526]

Just thinking out loud, perhaps they make up the lower pay with better benifits? My company does that. We're a non-profit so we can't offer top scale but our bennifits package kicks butt. I'd rather have a fantastic health and retirement plan than more money and only marginal benni's, myself.

 

[ducklite]

They did ask his salary range before he went to FL, but I guess his first questions should have been are you going to be able to pay that?

My guess is that they were maybe originally planning on paying the low end of his range. but after they interviewed people and realized that there were people who were qualified who were making less and would a lower salary if offered, they rethought things.

They liked your DH and wanted to hire him, but there was at least one other person who was totally qualified who they knew would work for less. SO they made an offer to your DH for a lower salary and when he turned it down they went to the next in line who accepted the lower salary.

It's just business, don't take it personally.

Anne

 

[Nette]

I remember a few years ago we were staying at Port Orleans and I saw a news broadcast on the cost of living in the Orlando area. The median income was like $35K... Googling the cost of living/salary rates in each city might actually make you reconsider the offer, or how you feel about it.

 

[Keggy]

I have a good friend who is an upper level position in the IT dept. He is compensated well for Disney, but he took a pay cut because it was his dream to work at Disney. Disney is able to create their own ranges for their positions. They have great benefits and there are no state taxes to contend with. If you have an plenty of qualified people applying for each position, then they are not going to negotiate.

I do think that the recruiter should have let him know if he was in the range or not. That is my big pet peeve. I just went on an interview on Friday and the recruiter told me I was in the range, but when I got there and spoke to the HR Manager, I was told I was above the range. It was a waste of time for them and me.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

That is a good point. My DH is from the San Francisco area....the median price for housing there is astronomical...so we are here! Love it here, and especially the fact we get to visit his family frequently!!

 

[phorsenuf]

Sometimes too people are paid more than what the job is really worth. Take my DH for example. He gets paid very well for what he does. He was at one time head of the department so his salary reflected that. When the company was taken over they brought in all their own guys and so my DH was back out in the field but retained his salary. If he was to change companies now his starting range would be far below what he makes now.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

Companies lowball all the time, Disney certainly is no different.

I agree. Also, companies know that job seekers often name a desired salary that is higher than they really would settle for.

OP, I can certainly understand being disappointed, but it's simply a business decision on Disney's part.

 

[Cindy B]

Thats not suprising at all. Same thing happened to my DH (it was a LAN admin job about 7 years ago). It really wasn't worth the low pay they offered up, so we declined.

They pay lowl because they can. It is a business, pure plain and simple.