Disney employees were furious at Bob Iger’s return to office mission, and more than 2,000 people signed a petition against

news7f02/18/2023

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Disney employees were furious at Bob Iger's return to office mission, and more than 2,000 people signed a petition against

Another back-to-office wits is underway, and this time it’s taking place in “the happiest place on Earth.”

Afterward Disney CEO Bob Iger announced last month that the employee will need to spend at least four days a week in the office, he should get some feedback this week. More than 2,300 employees signed a new petition asking Iger to reconsider its mandate to return the office, washington articles report Thursday.

“There is value in being together, but we also need to look ahead and embrace new models that add value,” the petition reads.

Employees argued that the policy would have “unintended consequences” that could harm the company, including “forcing some of our hardest-to-replace talent and most vulnerable communities.” must resign”, which could lead to “significant reductions in productivity, output and efficiency”. .”

Employees with disabilities, young children, or other issues that require remote work all provide testimonials in the petition, parcel report.

One employee, who asked not to be named, told the outlet: “I think people have adjusted really well to the flexibility implemented at Disney during the pandemic. “The fact that that suddenly disappeared was really scary for a lot of people.”

“The flexibility at Disney is really like a fresh start,” said another employee. “Now it feels like we’re going backwards.”

Iger back as CEO of Disney in November, after leaving the company only 11 months. During his first 15-year tenure, the 72-year-old former president of ABC managed to increase Disney’s net income by more than 400 percent, in part by adding top brands like Marvel and Pixar.

News of employees pushing back duties back to Iger’s office comes after the CEO was fired 7,000 workers as part of a cost-cutting move earlier this month. But despite their objections, the petition, which includes more than 2,300 employees, is the last straw for a company that has more than 200,000 yen.

“The work we’re doing to reshape our company around creativity, while reducing costs, will lead to sustained growth and profitability for our streaming business, helping we are better positioned to weather future disruptions and global economic challenges, while delivering value to our shareholders,” he said of the layoffs in a statement. declare.

Disney is not the only one Luck 500 The company asked employees to return to the office within the past year. From big tech giants like Apple for financial services companies such as Pioneers Group, a number of American companies have been try to bring workers back to the office after the pandemic, with varying degrees of success.

Last month, the CEO of Morgan Stanley quipped that telecommuting is “not an employee’s choice.” And Goldman book CEO David Solomon famously said that working remotely with his employees was “not the new normal” over a year ago, but the company still Fight to achieve pre-pandemic attendance at its headquarters in Manhattan. Although building occupancy rates in most major cities have recover This year, they’ve remained at a much lower level than pre-pandemic levels as many remote workers continue to push back on duties back into the office.

Jose Maria Barrero, assistant professor of finance at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), says Luck‘S Jane Thier earlier this month that CEOs may have to accept that some of their workers will never return to the office.

“I do think there will be a ceiling on attendance at work,” he said, arguing that 60% in-office attendance might be what executives can most hope for in the future. these days.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com