Want to work for Mickey Mouse? The annual spring hiring event at Walt Disney World is underway as part of an effort to fill over 3,500 roles across the resort. Available positions include full-time, part-time and seasonal roles within housekeeping, transportation, lifeguard, food and beverage… Read More »Walt Disney World searching for 3,500 new cast members
Over 16,000 Disney employees who work for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Disney Vacation Club Management in Florida are eligible for back wages after the Mouse House met with the US Department of Labor and agreed to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act… Read More »Disney to pay back wages after agreement with US Labor Department
If you want to have a big role in the future of Walt Disney World, you have to start somewhere. Many of today’s managers and executives started on the front line and worked their way to where they are now including the current President of… Read More »Help Wanted at Walt Disney World as they try to fill 1,000 new roles
Cast Members warm up as part of 2011 fitness training at Walt Disney World
A bit of good news for the cast of Disney’s domestic theme parks and their guests. The starting hourly wage of the entry level cast member could be rising to $10.00. According to a report in Bloomberg news, the 25% raise would roll out over two years. Last week, Disney made the offer to the Service Trade Council, a group of labor unions that represents almost half of Walt Disney World’s employees.
I see a couple of factors behind this offer. First, there is a nationwide push to raise the minimum wage to $10.10. Disney can show that companies can make this leap on their own by making this move now. Second, Disney has successfully recovered from the down economy and reported record profit last year; $6.6 billion is a lot of Disney dollars. Third, Disney has been investing a ton of money in capital improvements, they have to balance that with some concern for the personnel side of the ledger too.
Of course, there are concessions Disney wants from the unions in return. Switching from Pensions to 401(k) style retirement plans is one. I’m sure there are many others. But hey, that’s what collective bargaining is all about.
There’s one big reason for the offer that Bloomberg doesn’t mention, the Orlando labor market is once again becoming very competitive. In February of 2014 it dipped to 5.5% unemployment rate. That’s nearing the 4% that’s typically considered full-employment (everyone who wants to be working is). Wage inflation is one result of low unemployment, so Disney might be forced to raise wages, even if they weren’t negotiating a new contract with its employees.Read More »Disney Theme Park Entry Level Wages to Climb to $10 an Hour
Normally, I don’t write about various criminal issues that happen from time to time among Walt Disney World’s personnel. There are over 60,000 cast members and it would be impossible to pre-screen out all the bad eggs. But for certain positions, I believe Disney should… Read More »Disney World Security Guard Charged with Possessing Child Porn
Check out this 1938 rejection letter sent to a woman seeking a job with Disney. She was apparently rejected for being a woman. Turns out she went to work for Disney anyway. I found it via Recruitment Views, and they found it via A Welsh… Read More »How Times Have Changed