- Walt Disney's grandson Brad Lund, 50, hit out at the company's executives over claims they will receive large bonuses
- The company had furloughed 100,000 workers and ended their pay after parks shuttered up because of the coronavirus pandemic
- Lund said he hoped 'all family members will join in our dismay over senior Disney management compensation levels'
- The Disney heir is in the midst of his own decade-long legal case regarding his inheritance
- A Disney spokesperson said Wednesday 'there is no truth to any speculation about bonus payments'
- On Wednesday, Walt Disney World allowed some third-party shops and restaurants to open at its entertainment complex in Disney Springs in Florida
- It is the first step in reopening since gates were closed mid-March
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Walt Disney's grandson has hit out at the
company's executives over claims they will still receive large bonuses
despite furloughing tens of thousands of workers during the coronavirus shutdown.
Brad Lund, who is currently in a decade-long legal battle regarding his inheritance, told The Daily Beast of his 'dismay' over the alleged compensation.
'I
have already expressed my hope that the Disney organization continue to
give reasonable compensation and support to its many loyal employees in
the spirit of the company of which my grandfather was so proud,' the
50-year-old said.
'To me, it's the right thing to do during these difficult times—for the company, for shareholders, for its loyal employees.'
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| Waly Disney's grandson Brad Lund, pictured, has said he is dismayed at 'senior Disney management compensation levels while furloughing Disney workers at this critical time' |
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| Disney parks around the world remain closed amid the coronavirus pandemic and the company is estimated to have lost $500million last month before staff were furloughed |
He added that he hoped 'all family members will join in our dismay over
senior Disney management compensation levels while furloughing Disney
workers at this critical time'.
A spokesperson for the Walt Disney Company
told DailyMail.com, however, that 'there is no truth to any speculation
about bonus payments.
‘The facts are
that the decision to furlough was not made lightly and was one of
myriad actions taken to help the company weather the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic,' the spokesperson added.
'The
company paid full salaries to workers who were unable to perform their
duties for five weeks before beginning furloughs, which, unlike layoffs,
allow them to remain Disney employees and receive their full health
care benefits, paid for by the company.
'Furloughs
occurred across a variety of our businesses, and for those employees
covered by collective bargaining agreements, furloughs were agreed to by
their unions.'
On Wednesday, Walt Disney World allowed
some third-party shops and restaurants to open at its entertainment
complex in Disney Springs in Florida.
These
are the first signs of reopening since mid-March but there has been no
plan yet announced to reopen theme parks and hotels at their resorts.
In
April, Walt Disney Corporation stopped paying 100,000 operational
employees after placing them on furlough because of the prolonged
coronavirus shutdowns.
Employees would
still receive health insurance from Disney but were added to the
millions more filing for unemployment across the United States.
The
move from the world's biggest entertainment company - which has parks
in the US, France, China, Hong Kong and Japan - affected half its
workforce.
The company was said to have lost $500million in March after closures.
 |
| The company placed 100,000 workers on furlough and ended their pay as parks remained closed. Disney heirs Brad Lund and Abigail Disney have hit out at the decision |
The move angered Disney heiress Abigail Disney, however, who Lund has now come out in support of.
'I agree with my cousin Abigail's sentiments,' he said to the Daily Beast.
Shortly
after the Hollywood giant announced the furloughs, Abigail launched
into a fiery tirade on Twitter in which she condemned the company for
continuing to pay out executive bonuses and dividends, which have
totaled $1.5 billion in the past.
The
heiress, 60, argued that this money could pay for three months' salary
to its frontline workers now feeling the financial impact of the
pandemic.
While no decision on
Disney's dividend had been announced, she criticized a move to pay out
in July, claiming that '80% of shares are owned by the wealthiest 10%'
and the money would be received by people who have 'already been
collecting egregious bonuses for years'.
 |
| Disney heir Abigail launched a fiery Twitter thread in April in which she condemned alleged compensation received by company executives and said the company 'must do better'. A spokesperson for the company has denied 'speculation about bonus payments' |
 |
| The heiress, 60, argued that this money could pay for three months' salary to its frontline workers now feeling the financial impact of the pandemic during her Twitter tirade |
The activist also commented on the
announcement in March that top Disney executives were forgoing their
salary considering the current crisis.
Former
chief executive Bob Iger gave up the remainder of his $3million salary
for this year and his replacement Bob Chapek said he'd only take half of
his $2.5million base salary, as a show of solidarity.
Bonuses these executives could receive were highlighted, however, as they greatly exceed their salaries.
Executive
bonus schemes are in place at the company and are believed to be worth
about 900 times the average $52,000 salary. Iger got $65.6million in
incentives in 2018 and $46million in 2019.
Chapek's
bonus is expected to be about 300 percent of his salary. In addition,
he could bring home 'not less than $15 million' in long-term incentives.
The 69-year-old is said to have raked in $47.5 million last year.
A Walt Disney spokesperson has now denied the speculation about the bonus payments, however.
'Senior
leaders across the company accepted deep salary cuts, with our CEO
forgoing half his salary and our executive chairman forgoing his entire
salary for 2020,' the spokesperson told DailyMail.com.
'There is no truth to any speculation about bonus payments.
'Compensation
for executives is closely tied to the company’s financial
performance—more than 90% of total compensation for the CEO last year
was performance-based—and decisions on compensation aren’t made by the
Board until the end of the year.
'So it is premature and irresponsible to speculate about bonus compensation—especially in May, during a global pandemic.'
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| The heiress hit out at Disney CEO Bob Chapek's (left) and Chairman Bob Iger (right) who she claimed would still receive large bonuses despite the furloughing of staff. Both said they would not take their full salary for the remainder of the year at the start of the coronavirus outbreak |
The public rebuke from Lund comes as he
pushes forward with a legal case surrounding his mother's estate and
claims he was pushed out of his inheritance.
In
June 2019, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David J. Cowan ruled that
Lund lacked the maturity and financial ability to manage his
inheritance.
'Do I want to give $200
million, effectively, to someone who may suffer, on some level, from
Down syndrome? The answer is no,' Judge Cown said.
The
judge was requested to retract the statement as a 2016 DNA test proved
Lund cannot suffer from Down Syndrome, but he refused.
Judge Cowan also refused to sign off on a multi-million-dollar settlement for all parties.
It came after a 2014 ruling in Arizona in which a judge said Lund was competent to manange the money.
His
stepsisters had filed a petition in 2009 to appoint a conservator due
to alleged mental incompetence. His twin sister Michelle also joined the
action later, claiming that her father and stepmother had undue
influence.
Disney theme parks have been shuttered since mid-March but they began to open restaurants in Disney Springs from Wednesday.
The
company issued a blunt warning for visitors, saying anyone who visited
the complex assumed all the risk if they fell ill with COVID-19.
'An
inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where
people are present,' the company said on its web site.
 |
| Disney Springs, the entertainment and shopping complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, will begin a partial reopening on Wednesday. Disney and unions representing workers reached an agreement on safeguards to protect employees from the coronavirus, a union statement said on Thursday, removing one of the company's hurdles to reopening |
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| Disney issued a disclaimer warning guests to Disney Springs that they assume all risk of contracting COVID-19 while at the facilities which began to open on Wednesday |
'COVID-19 is an extremely contagious
disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and guests
with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable,' the
warning added.
'By visiting Disney Springs, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.'
All workers and visitors over age 2 will be required to wear face masks at Disney Springs.
Workers
and visitors also will have to get temperature checks and anyone with a
temperature over 100.4 degrees will be denied entry.
The
number of guests allowed in will be limited to encourage social
distancing, and extra hand sanitizer and hand washing stations will be
in place, the company said.
After
negotiating with the company, the unions that represent more than half
of the 77,000 employees at Disney World said last week that workers who
contract COVID-19 will get paid time off while in quarantine.
Workers with virus symptoms also can stay home without being disciplined for being absent.
Workers
will be given thermometers if they want them, and each worker will be
given three face masks, according to the agreed-upon terms.
Disney and unions representing workers at
Florida's Walt Disney World reached an agreement on safeguards to
protect employees from the coronavirus, a union statement said on
Thursday, removing one of the company's hurdles to reopening its popular
theme parks.
The company said next
week, third-party operating participants would open at Disney Springs
and later this month three stores and venues owned and operated by
Disney - World of Disney, D-Luxe Burger and the Marketplace Co-Op -
would reopen.
'While our theme parks
and resort hotels remain temporarily closed, the phased reopening of
Disney Springs is a welcome milestone as we navigate through this
unprecedented time together as responsibly as we can,' Disney Springs
Vice President Matt Simon said in a statement.
The
entertainment giant said it was implementing safety measures and
operational changes such as cashless or contactless payment options, a
requirement to wear 'appropriate' face covering, temperature screenings,
social distancing practices, increased cleaning and disinfection
procedures.
In the United States,
Florida is ahead of California, home to Disneyland, in reopening
businesses that were closed starting in mid-March.
Shutting theme park gates cost the company $1billion from January through March, Disney said earlier this month.
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| Walt Disney Company will partially reopen Disney Springs shopping and entertainment complex on Wednesdy, May 20 |
Parking and Entrances – Parking will be limited to the Orange and Lime garages. All surface parking lots will be closed.
At this time there will only be 4 entrances to Disney Springs:
Orange Garage
Lime Garages
Hotel Plaza Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge
Rideshare location
Temperature Screening – All guests and Cast Members (employees) must undergo temperature screening upon arrival.
Screening locations will be the second floor level of the Orange and Lime parking garages and the Marketplace Entrance.
Guests
with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will not be allowed
entrance based on guidance from the health authorities.
The same applies for Cast Members.
Physical Barriers –
In order to limit physical contact between guests and Cast Members,
physical barriers have been added in certain locations. These include:
cash registers, Guest Relations, etc.
Face Coverings
– All Guests 3 years and older, Cast Members and other employees are
required to wear face coverings at all times. The only exception is
while dining.
Cashless Transactions
– Cash transactions will be discouraged. Guests should use contactless
payment options such as credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, Apply
Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, etc.
Cleaning and Sanitization
– The Disney Springs staff has increased its cleaning and sanitization
of all high-traffic areas including tables, doors, benches, handrails,
escalators, restrooms and more.
There are also new handwashing stations that have been installed throughout Disney Springs that guests are encouraged to use.
Cast Training
– Disney Springs staff has been trained to employ physical distancing
and will continue to receive training to improve protocols.
Full Article & Source:
Walt Disney's grandson Brad Lund, 50, criticizes bonuses for executives after the company furloughed 100,000 workers during coronavirus shutdown
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