This just in from our friends at the Orlando Sentinel-
The Walt Disney Company is going to start furloughing employees starting April 19 as its Orlando theme parks and hotels are shut down indefinitely from the coronavirus pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on our world with untold suffering and loss and has required all of us to make sacrifices. Over the last few weeks, mandatory decrees from government officials have shut down a majority of our businesses,” the company said in a statement Thursday. “However, with no clear indication of when we can restart our businesses, we’re forced to make the difficult decision to take the next step and furlough employees whose jobs aren’t necessary at this time.”
Furloughed employees will stop getting paychecks but will continue to receive health insurance and can still pursue their education through a Disney-paid program, the release said.
Even though the Disney theme parks shut down in Orlando in March, full-time and part-time employees had been still getting compensated.
It’s unclear which employees will stop getting paychecks. The news release did not say how many will get furloughed or from which areas.
Update- The cast members that are being furloughed are execs, salaried and non union employees. All union CMs are still going to be paid.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
Michele also contributes theme park news for Fox 35 Orlando 11pm news and on the radio on WDBO.
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