WDW Layoffs

[WDSearcher]

Walt Disney World Announces Management Layoffs

(Orlando Business Journal) - Walt Disney World says it is making "internal organizational changes" this week to streamline its operations. In a prepared statement, spokeswoman Jacquee Polak says the changes are designed to increase efficiency and reduce layers of decision making. Affected are approximately 25 management and professional jobs in several areas of the company that Polak says will not impact the experience of Central Florida resorts guests. Disney says it is providing professional outplacement assistance and severance pay to help the laid-off employees. Disney says it will continue to hire hourly and professional positions, including more than 2,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers to meet summer employment needs.

 

[DVCconvert]

April 5, 2005

Disney World cuts staff
BY DONNA BALANCIA
FLORIDA TODAY


{Excerpts from above article}

"This reorganization has been in process for months," said Jacquee Polak, a Walt Disney World spokeswoman. She declined to give any details on the layoffs.

"Obviously, we want to protect the privacy of those impacted," she said. "These layoffs are happening across the property."

Analysts said the reason for the layoffs could be to send a message to shareholders.

"The 25 people -- that's a small amount," said Ray Braun, senior vice president of Economics Research Associates.

Disney analyst Dennis McAlpine of McAlpine Associates of Scarsdale, N.Y., suggested the announcement was a display by Bob Iger, who takes over as chief executive officer Oct. 1. McAlpine said there is value in telling shareholders of cost-cutting measures, no matter how small.

"They're trying to get the get message across," he said. "After all, 25 people -- that doesn't cover the cost of a hot-dog stand. Maybe people thought the cuts were going to be bigger. And it could be that Bob Iger's showing he's in charge."

Summer hiring
Despite the Walt Disney World layoffs announced Monday, the company plans to hire more than 2,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers.

 

[WDWHound]

25 people lose their jobs and it is supposed to be news? I am sorry for them, but this is hardly newsworthy. (Note, this is not a shot at the OP, but rather at the media and Disney for making a big deal of this)

 

[rocketriter]

I have no information on this particular layoff, but small actions like this often reflect an organization deciding that a couple of departments are either disfunctional or redundant, and doing a bit of housekeeping. When that happens, it's sometimes easier (in legal/HR terms) to behead an entire department than to go after the most "troublesome" individuals.

 

[WDSearcher]

25 people lose their jobs and it is supposed to be news? I am sorry for them, but this is hardly newsworthy. (Note, this is not a shot at the OP, but rather at the media and Disney for making a big deal of this)

Well ... it's 25 execs, which is kind of a big deal. And the news item is from a Florida paper, which makes it news since Disney is such a big employer there. If we were in Seattle and Microsoft was laying off 25 execs, it'd be in the paper there, don't you think?


(Who still has a job ... )

 

[Plus4206]

These sound like the types of layoffs that have been needed for a long time. I'd rather have a 100 or so more CMs working out in the parks then an unneeded level of management with high salaries.

 

[dpic]

It's probably the Eisner Butt-Kissing Department. 25 execs sound about right.

 

[mitros]

I'd agree that as long as the 25 where "top heavy" executives and not the CMs that help make Disney what it is, it seems like an OK thing to do. Keeping 25 CMs on the job to take care of the guests is also an OK thing to do.

PS: Please be advised that it is NOT a happy situation for ANYONE and their family when they lose their job!