Disney has implemented another round of layoffs. This latest round has affected approximately 300 employees across various corporate departments, including human resources, legal, and finance, as part of an ongoing cost-saving initiative. This follows a previous reduction in July, which saw about 140 employees let go from its television division.
One of the recently-affected employees, Christine Collins, an acquiring assistant editor based in New York, shared her experience on LinkedIn. She reflected on her career at Disney, which was marked by several personal milestones—her first full-time job, first promotion, and first state award. However, she also faced the difficult reality of her first layoff, which was announced during a same-day surprise meeting with HR and a senior manager. Collins had worked with Disney for five years.
Collins described how the news was shared with her in an unexpected same-day meeting. She was called into a conference room with HR and a senior manager, where she was informed that her position was being eliminated as part of the restructuring. After five years with Disney, Collins expressed both sadness and gratitude, acknowledging the challenges facing the publishing industry and the world at large. She noted that although the decision wasn’t hers, she was leaving Disney•Hyperion having grown from a “publishing hopeful to an accomplished editor.”
Despite the difficult news, Collins expressed gratitude for her time at Disney, stating that while the layoff was not her choice, she left the company as a “different person” with significant professional growth.
In a statement, a Disney spokesperson explained the rationale behind the cuts, emphasising the company’s continuous efforts to manage resources efficiently. “We continually evaluate ways to invest in our businesses and more effectively manage our resources and costs,” the spokesperson told Deadline, noting that the corporate-level functions had been reviewed for more efficient operations.
Disney has been in cost-cutting mode since CEO Bob Iger’s return in late 2022, with layoffs affecting 7,000 employees across several phases throughout 2023.
