Universal resort cuts workers
Orlando theme park cites virus, doesn’t disclose number
Universal Orlando Resort laid off an undisclosed number of workers Friday, a day after its parent company revealed the stark financial picture of the coronavirus’ impact.
Universal didn’t say how many people were laid off or in what departments. A notice had not yet been filed with the state Friday, but the news of the layoffs circulated throughout social media.
For those employees, the company will provide severance pay, subsidized health benefits and reemployment assistance, Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said in an email.
“We are prioritizing daily operations and shorter-term projects and continuing our pause on longer-term projects such as Epic Universe as we allow the tourism industry to recover,” Schroder’s statement said. “We have again made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce to reflect current priorities and needs. As always, we are aware of the impact this will have on those affected by this decision and their families.”
Schroder added, “We continue to have confidence in the long term future of our business, our industry and our community.”
The layoffs come at Universal Orlando Resort, which doesn’t have a unionized workforce like Walt Disney World, as the $600 weekly federal unemployment benefits approved by Congress during the pandemic have expired. Now, laid-off Florida workers are only eligible for a maximum of $275 a week from the state in unemployment benefits for up to 12 weeks.
Universal is owned by NBCU
niversal, which is run by media giant Comcast Corp.
Throughout the company, the “financial impact has been most significant and immediate and the operational challenge the
most daunting” for theme parks during the coronavirus pandemic, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell told investors Thursday during an earnings call.
Thursday’s release of the second-quarter earnings showed Universal parks’ revenue fell 94% from nearly $1.5 billion in 2019 to $87 million.
Already, the implications of the cuts and the realities of the coronavirus pandemic are felt in Orlando.
Last week, Universal announced it was canceling Halloween Horror Nights, a weeks-long fan favorite and big moneymaker featuring
haunted houses and scare zones.
Executives reiterated Thursday that Universal’s Epic Universe, the third theme park in Orlando, has paused construction without a restarting date during the economic uncertainty.
Before the pandemic, Universal Orlando Resort
employed about 25,000 employees. In mid-June, the company also had a round of layoffs, the number of which the company did not disclose.
The troubles aren’t unique in Orlando as some furloughed SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World employees haven’t been called back to work. Rosen Hotels and Resorts laid off nearly 2,000 people effective Friday.
Walt Disney Co. is scheduled to release its earnings Tuesday with SeaWorld following on Aug. 10.