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Multiple credible sources have substantiated these either through individual research or personal accounts from verified Disney employees. A 2018 study by Occidental College and the Economic Roundtable looked at working conditions for employees at Disneyland and found that more than half worried about being evicted from their homes, and more than one in 10 had been homeless in the last two years. Some even admitted how the demands to remain eternally happy had wreaked havoc on their health. Brian, who operates the Splash Mountain ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, admitted that he “has trouble finding the real me” after dropping his happy workplace face at the end of a shift. His co-worker Laura forewarns her husband “to give me 20 minutes” after she returns home from a shift “to deal with when I am screaming inside from the hurt and anger” (E, Spitznagel 2022).
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Surveys show that most Disney employees are mature adults, and the job is their career and primary source of income. Three-quarters of Disney employees with children under 18 years old report food insecurity (Dreier, 2018). Employees reportedly commute 1 hour or more living in outlying communities for affordable housing options. There are claims of employees opting to sleep in their car in the parking lot to save gas (Jackson, 2022), with employees living close to the resort having to share an apartment with several individuals to afford rent (Colopy, 2023).
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While working at Walt Disney can be a magical experience for some, others feel that working at the organization is the most physically exhausting job, and the pay provided does not equate to the work done. According to Vieregge (2019), employees have to work shifts from 8 to 12 hours and spend considerable time standing or engaging in activities such as walking or dancing with the audience, which is very physically draining. Further, most of the employees at Disney are expected to work for five to six days with shifts that are over eight hours (Vieregge, 2019).
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In truth, Disney will do as it pleases, a media icon juggernaut like no other can have control like never before. These employees today can only hope they’re getting paid more than 15 dollars an hour because the economy and cost of living are actually worse than they were during the past recession. It is honest integrity that should drive Disney Incorporated as we progress in today’s expensive reality their workers and anyone who makes their park run smoothly should be compensated handsomely in order to protect its PR and overall legacy.
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Aimee, Ramon, Rochelle : SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING
Solutions:
Rochelle-Disney has a responsibility to set high standards for workplace conditions and employee compensation. By prioritizing the well-being of its employees, Disney can enhance its reputation as a socially responsible company and attract top talent.