Disney to Lay Off 28,000 in Parks Division

Walt Disney Co.’s park division said Monday it is reducing its staff count as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 28,000 domestic employees affected.The Burbank company’s non-working employees have been on furlough since April, with Disney paying health care benefits. Now, the company has “made the very difficult decision to begin the process of reducing our workforce,” Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro said in a statement.About 67 percent of the affected employees are part-time.The cuts are a result of “the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on our business,” D’Amaro noted, which is “exacerbated in California by the state’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen.”The Anaheim resort, which includes two theme parks, three hotels and the Downtown Disney retail area,  closed on March 14. Downtown Disney has started a phased reopening in recent months while the theme parks await state reopening guidelines.“Our Cast Members have always been key to our success, playing a valued and important role in delivering a world-class experience, and we look forward to providing opportunities where we can for them to return,” said D’Amaro.