Universal Orlando has confirmed that 1,123 team members from its creative division, theme parks, and resorts are facing layoffs due to COVID-19.
Universal officials confirmed the news in a letter to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer (via Click Orlando).
Universal Orlando’s theme parks, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, were closed due to the pandemic between March and June.
So far, Comcast has only been able to reopen Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan, while Universal Studios Hollywood remains closed in California.
Team members facing layoffs have already been notified, and officials said that the redundancies will affect various positions at Universal Orlando.
The letter stated that all employees have been given 60 days’ notice for their dismissal. The positions are not hourly, and the dates of layoffs range from August through December.
Universal layoffs range from August through December
There will be 678 layoffs at Universal Studios Plaza, as well as 373 layoffs at Commodity Circle in Orlando and 34 layoffs at Currency Drive in Orlando. There will also be 7 layoffs at Exchange Drive in Orlando, and 31 layoffs at Old Park Lane in Orlando.
The 1,123 layoffs are not new or unannounced, according to officials at Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Orlando previously confirmed that it had “made the difficult decision” to lay off an undisclosed number of employees as it copes with the ongoing impact of COVID-19. Prior to that, the company announced that it would be reducing its workforce.
“We continue to manage our business through challenging times and we again have made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce as we position our business for the future,” Universal Orlando spokesperson Tom Schroder told Spectrum News.
“We continue to be aware of the impact this will have on those affected by this action and we are working to support them through this process,” added Schroder.
Images: Universal
