Angry Disney workers warn Iger’s plan to return to the office could cause ‘long-term harm’

Thousands of Disney employees are reportedly opposing their boss Bob Iger’s strict plan to return to the office, arguing in a petition that the four-day-a-week requirement would have “unintended consequences” for the company.

More than 2,300 corporate employees of Mouse House companies, including ABC, Pixar, Marvel Studios and others, have already signed the petition. Eiger’s mandate will come into effect on March 1.

Disgruntled workers say the mandate is “likely to have unforeseen consequences that will cause long-term harm to the company” as it crowds out “hard-to-replace talent and vulnerable communities,” according to a copy of the petition obtained by the Washington Post. .

“These policies will slow or even reverse our post-COVID recovery and growth, creating critical resource gaps and causing an irreparable loss of institutional knowledge,” the petition reads.

Disney’s return-to-the-office plan – one of the most rigorous of its kind in the entertainment media sector – comes as Iger tries to lead a realignment of a struggling company. Prior to the changes, employees were expected to work on site for only two or three days a week.

Organizers reportedly filed a petition with senior management along with hundreds of feedback from employees affected by the policy change, with some saying they plan to step down if Iger follows through with its implementation. Others say they believe the policy will effectively force them to leave.

According to the Washington Post, many of the reviews were submitted by employees who are parents or who described themselves as “neurodivergent” and suffering from conditions such as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, or autism.

Workers want Iger to invest in supporting remote work for Disney employees while promoting work culture through in-person events and networking opportunities.

“Flexibility at Disney really felt like a fresh start,” the petition reads. “Now it looks like we’re moving backwards.”

The Post has reached out to Disney for comment on the petition.

Iger first unveiled the four-day-a-week plans in January, just weeks after he became Disney CEO again.

The Disney boss argued that personal collaboration was essential to resurrect the company.

“As you’ve heard me tell you so many times, creativity is the heart and soul of who we are and what we do at Disney,” Iger said. “And in a creative business like ours, there is no substitute for the ability to connect, observe, and create with colleagues that comes from being physically together, or the opportunity to grow professionally by learning from leaders and mentors.”