Disney furloughed Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm staff amid coronavirus concerns. Last month, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, causing civilians around the world to take additional security precautions against the aggressive virus. With a tally surpassing 1 million cases worldwide, COVID-19 has caused turbulence in the stock market, the healthcare system, and the entertainment industry.
Distributor of some of the most profitable franchises in the history of film, Disney Studios has reached a halt amid delayed productions, theater closures, and postponed film releases. In a fervent attempt to prevent further coronavirus outbreaks, the Mouse House shuttered all Disney theme parks indefinitely. Despite the closure of Disneyland, Disney World, and the Disney cruise line, Disney cast members are slated to remain on the payroll until April 18. Earlier this week, the Walt Disney Company announced it would begin to put nonessential employees on furlough status. Disney declared they would select which employees to place on unpaid leave based on job necessity.
Per Variety, Disney revealed that staffers at Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar have been placed on furlough status. As it stands, there is no clear timeline for when the furlough status will be lifted. Unable to perform job duties due to continuous shutdowns amid the coronavirus pandemic, the furloughed employees at Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar will continue to receive health benefits.
Reportedly, Disney’s marketing and distribution departments have been the most impacted, as Disney’s release dates of films like The New Mutants, Black Widow, and Mulan have been shuffled around the calendar.
In terms of furlough, affected workers will continue to tote the title of a Disney employee, and may be eligible to receive federal compensation. Furloughed staffers at Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar will go on leave beginning April 19. Attempting to ride out the financial shock, last week, the Walt Disney Company announced Executive Chairman Bob Iger, new CEO Bob Chapek, and other Disney executives opted to take hefty cuts to their salaries.
Amid a slew of changes to the entertainment industry, Disney has attempted to make the best of present circumstances. The Mouse House is releasing movies earlier on Disney+, airing Disney sports films on ESPN, and workshopping plans to return to normal in the future. It remains to be seen what lasting impacts the coronavirus pandemic will have on the conglomerate. Hopefully, the security measures set in motion will result in a swift resolution and remove the need for Disney to have employees on furlough status.
Source: Variety