SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 — 1,896 FURLOUGHED EMPLOYEES ARE PERMANENTLY LAID OFF AT THREE LOCATIONS IN FLORIDA
The company has announced that 1,896 employees at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove who were originally furloughed have has their status converted to permanently laid off.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 — SAN ANTONIO, 242 LAYOFFS
In a Texas State filing, the company has disclosed that SeaWorld San Antonio has laid off 242 employees in response to declining attendance and revenues.
Acompany spokesperson noted, "The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on each of our lives, in ways both small and profound. The same is true for the travel, tourism, entertainment, and hospitality industries, and the operations of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc.
While we were able to bring thousands of furloughed Ambassadors back to work and hoped to bring back everyone, the current environment requires us to set up the company for long term success. SeaWorld has determined that it must transition certain park and corporate personnel from a furloughed status to a permanent layoff.
We deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of our Ambassadors to our company’s shared mission, values, and goals. Over our 60-year history, our parks have inspired millions of guests to love, protect and care for our planet’s animals and their habitats. We are sorry to have to part ways with any team members in this difficult moment, but their abiding commitment to our guests, fellow Ambassadors and animals is recognized and made a lasting impact."
SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 — FURLOUGHS CONVERTED TO PERMANENT LAYOFFS (SEE 9/15/20 POST)
In a filing with the Securities and Exchnge Commission, the company noted that an unspecified number of furloughs would be converted to permanent layoffs due to the unforseeable impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a company spokesperson, “We deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of our Ambassadors to our company’s shared mission, values, and goals. Over our 60-year history, our parks have inspired millions of guests to love, protect and care for our planet’s animals and their habitats. We are sorry to have to part ways with any team members in this difficult moment, but their abiding commitment to our guests, fellow Ambassadors and animals is recognized and made a lasting impact.”
SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 — 100 CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES LAID OFF
The company has announced the layoff of 100 employees at its Orlando, Florida call center. Call center operations are being outsourced to a third-party business process outsourcer.
According to a company spokesperson, “SeaWorld undertook a careful review of our operations and made a business decision to restructure our call center operations. This move will allow us to better and more efficiently scale our call center to meet customer demand, especially during peak months."
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Once again we see the power of a relatively small group of animal and environmental activists and a well-coordinated media campaign as Sea World announces that they will lay off 350 employees.
Much of SeaWorld’s woes can be attributed to the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which detailed the purported abuse of “killer whales” (orcas) at SeaWorld. Without its iconic star “Shamu” attraction, attendance plummeted. This movie and all of the surrounding hype greatly upset children and their virtue signaling parents who refused to visit the attraction.
This layoff was preceded by another 320 jobs last December (2015) and 300 jobs the previous year (2014). Declining attendance, revenue, and profits – and the rising value of the company’s real estate may mean that there is more money in high-rise condos than an amusement venue.
No matter how much fun amusement attractions seem, the idea of a family of four paying a little over $3,0200 for a four-day vacation including hotel but exclusive of travel seems excessive. Especially with an increasing degree of 3-D and immersive virtual reality devices that can replicate everything but the smell, the crowds, and the fatigue, hassle, and long lines.
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?