Layoffs are always a terrible time for employees. Either to satisfy the demands of investors or to lower costs after a series of strategic mistakes by senior managers, it is then the employee who gets the kick in the teeth.
It is even worse if you are employed in one of the “at-will” American states where your rights and protections from corporate excess are limited and notice periods and other protections are lacking. Layoffs can, and frequently do, arrive with a suddenness and severity that can leave employees seriously exposed.
So it appears to be at Disney where, according to Deadline, a series of layoffs are commencing this week. The first round will involve 300 people who are already getting the tap on the shoulder and asked to come to a quick meeting with the smiling assassins in HR.
Disney Entertainment Television, which had its own round of layoffs this summer, is not affected this time. The Parks and Experiences division is also excluded so far.
Disney gave the following statement:
“We continually evaluate ways to invest in our businesses and more effectively manage our resources and costs to fuel the state-of-the-art creativity and innovation that consumers value and expect from Disney. As part of this ongoing optimization work, we have been reviewing the cost structure for our corporate-level functions and have determined there are ways for them to operate more efficiently.”
Pixar laid off 14% of its staff already, and 150 “Cast Members” have been let go from Disney Stores so far this year.
This is on top of the nearly 7,000 roles cut across the whole corporation last year.