SeaWorld announced on Thursday that it will eliminate 350 salaried and hourly positions, as part of a move to restructuring its operations. The company’s 10 parks and its Orlando headquarters will bear the brunt of the job cuts, a statement from SeaWorld said.
“This restructuring will allow us to operate more efficiently and better position us for long-term growth and independence,” said Jim Atchison, President and Chief Executive Officer. “It is an unfortunate, but necessary, consequence of a restructuring of this sort that positions will be lost.”
All employees affected by the restructuring will receive severance benefits and will be informed over the next two days, the statement said.
The job losses affect less than two percent of the company’s total peak workforce which totals 20,000 people in five states: Florida, California, Texas, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
It is not immediately clear how many workers would lose their jobs in Orlando.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment owns and operates SeaWorld parks in Orlando, Fla., San Diego, Calif., and San Antonio, Texas; Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla., and Williamsburg, Va.; Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando; Adventure Island in Tampa; Water Country USA in Willliamsburg and Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa., near Philadelphia. ??
That is so sad to hear right before Christmas. Never would have guessed either!