320 jobs were eliminated by SeaWorld Entertainment on Tuesday, December 6. These jobs came from all 12 of the company’s theme parks and corporate headquarters in Orlando and equal about 3 percent of the company.
The restructuring was described by a company spokeswoman as “a combination of layoffs and elimination of vacant positions”, but a specific breakdown of the jobs was not given.
The company said that anyone who lost their job “would receive enhanced severance benefits and outplacement assistance.”
In a statement to the Orlando Sentinel, the company said, “These changes are being made to best position our company for long-term success, and so that we can continue to do great things for animals across the globe. We remain committed to a continued focus on the guest experience, the health and welfare of our animals, and the safety of our guests and team members. It is an unfortunate, but necessary, consequence of the restructuring that some positions will be lost.”
When SeaWorld released their third quarter financial report in November, they announced a new cost optimization program being set in place to save $40 million through 2018. That report showed net income and attendance down from last year. The company has been struggling since the Blackfish documentary was released in 2013, claiming that SeaWorld’s animals were being mistreated.
SeaWorld previously laid off 300 people in December 2014.
News source/photo credit: Orlando Sentinel
