Disney to fire 4,000 more in California and Florida parks – World News

Photo: The Canadian Press

FILE – In this photo file from Thursday, July 2, 2020, cars drive under a sign greeting visitors near the entrance to Walt Disney World, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Walt Disney Co. announces plans to lay off an additional 4,000 workers in its theme parks division in California and Florida due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry. The company has restricted participation in its parks and modified protocols to allow for social distancing. (Photo AP / John Raoux, File)

The Walt Disney Co. has announced plans to lay off an additional 4,000 workers in the California and Florida theme park division due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry.

The announcement by the company was made in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this week, stating that 32,000 employees will be laid off in the first half of fiscal 2021, which began last month. At the end of September, the company had already announced plans to lay off 28,000 theme park workers.

In the SEC filing on the eve of Thanksgiving Day, the company said it also put 37,000 employees on leave not scheduled for termination due to the pandemic.

“Due to the current climate, including the impacts of COVID-19 and the changing environment in which we operate, the company has generated efficiencies in its staff, including limiting hiring to critical corporate roles, permits and reductions in place.” , the document said.

The company also said it could make further spending cuts, such as reducing investments in film and television content and more layoffs and layoffs.

In Florida, the company has restricted participation in its parks and changed protocols to allow social distancing by limiting the meeting and greeting of characters.

The company did not specify the number of workers who would be interested in its Orlando theme parks.

Disney parks closed in March as the pandemic began to spread across the United States. Florida parks reopened in the summer, but California parks have yet to reopen pending state and local government approvals.