Perks being reduced for some CMs

[hopemax]

Lose the dust, it is a low paying job and expecting to be treated like you are valuable is just a daydream.

I wish someone would tell the rest of the world that as well. But yet the old expectations persist by executives, guests and media that you will get first class service at a Disney Park or Resort despite it being provided by unskilled labor with less training than many service jobs, and high turnover rates (especially as the CP/IP programs grow). Everyone plays into the lie that there is a Disney Difference (at the same time so many people joke, "if you don't like the answer you get, call back/ask someone else, you'll get a different answer").

This is not a knock on CM's, my Mom was one, but the "input" is so far changed from what it used to be (viable career vs now), why do so many insist the "output" has not.

 

[French Quarter]

All of it, you are upset they cut perks on a service job and expect ethical treatment from this company because you have union coverage in an at will state? Get real this is a lark not a career, will never support you for the long run. It will resign you to living in warrens rather than buying security, living the dream is not the path to a full life.

If you want to do it and understand what you are buying into but please don't whine about how you are treated when you accept the conditions and wages you bought into when you accept the job. Either do it or leave, the company will not operate to please you.

Lose the dust, it is a low paying job and expecting to be treated like you are valuable is just a daydream.

I think you are responding to the wrong person?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It's just a matter of time before this benefit cut is applied to all CM's at WDW, All the low hanging fruit for cuts is gone now they need to move up the chain.

You're absolutely wrong. Completely backwards, in fact. Complimentary admission for cast members carries (virtually) zero incremental operating expense but brings with it incremental revenue in the form of merchandise and F&B sales. In other words, letting cast members in for free makes the company money. I know this with 100% certainty. This is NOT a "cut costs" move, but a "improve the guest experience, even at the expense of the bottom line" move.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The issue here is at one time under both Card Walker and Eisner being a Disney CM was a lower middle class job and Disney paid far above minimum wage. You were never going to become rich but you could have a nice apartment or a small house and a car and put a bit aside for retirement.

Now it's a bloody race to the bottom complete with company towns and the modern equivalent of indentured servitude ie the H1B and H2B visa programs.

Maybe you miss the fact that employment is a voluntary exchange of labor for money based on a mutually agreed upon rate between employee and employer. Think you're worth $80,000 a year? Then don't take the job that only pays $8.00 per hour. Nobody willing to pay you more than $8.00 per hour because you have no skills? Then maybe that's all you're worth.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Why don't you get over your elitist self? I don't see why you have such a problem with us voicing a little angst at the chipping away of perks here and there. How does it affect your life? Hint: it doesn't. If it bothers you so much, get out. I am so sick of the constant "hate" the CMs get on this board.

That's not entirely true. Cast-as-guests are among the most obnoxious at WDW, led by the CPs. Nobody wants to overhear you (a general "you", not you specifically) talking about how drunk you got in the dorms last night or how Cinderella made out with the Flame Tree guy in the hot tub or how you'll just go crazy if you hear the music to MI-SI-CI one more time or how Suzanne is abusing FMLA every Friday and everyone knows but can't do anything about it.*

*All things overheard by me from cast-as-guest at WDW.

 

[ford91exploder]

Why don't you get over your elitist self? I don't see why you have such a problem with us voicing a little angst at the chipping away of perks here and there. How does it affect your life? Hint: it doesn't. If it bothers you so much, get out. I am so sick of the constant "hate" the CMs get on this board.

Yes especially from a certain poster who uses the nom de plume of a Marvel character who seems to view CM's as the lowest form of life suitable only for crushing beneath his feet and completely unworthy of any perks. I'm guessing he's a lower management type at a Disney company.

These people forget it's the lowly CM's who actually MAKE the magic happen day after day.

 

[ford91exploder]

I wish someone would tell the rest of the world that as well. But yet the old expectations persist by executives, guests and media that you will get first class service at a Disney Park or Resort despite it being provided by unskilled labor with less training than many service jobs, and high turnover rates (especially as the CP/IP programs grow). Everyone plays into the lie that there is a Disney Difference (at the same time so many people joke, "if you don't like the answer you get, call back/ask someone else, you'll get a different answer").

This is not a knock on CM's, my Mom was one, but the "input" is so far changed from what it used to be (viable career vs now), why do so many insist the "output" has not.

Because for many of them it would upend their belief system that Disney is different from the average real estate holding company.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Yes especially from a certain poster who uses the nom de plume of a Marvel character who seems to view CM's as the lowest form of life suitable only for crushing beneath his feet and completely unworthy of any perks. I'm guessing he's a lower management type at a Disney company.

These people forget it's the lowly CM's who actually MAKE the magic happen day after day.

There it is. I disagree with you so I must be a "lower management type at a Disney company." Was it you who called me a "TDO drone" awhile back, too?

 

[raven]

Please. I've worked at the mouse and at universal. I hate to compare... buuuut... Disney treats its workers liar garbage compared to how Universal treats theres.
A few examples:
1) Food: Universal offers discounts on all food in park to its team members. Disney does not at all offer food discounts 99% of the time. Even the coupons that Disney give their it's cast as a christmas gift can only be used under VERY SPECIFIC circumstances and only at VERY SPECIFIC restaurants. NOT TO MENTION, in Universals team member cafeterias meals (including entry, side, a drink, and a desert) will usually run you less than $5. For a basic meal (no drink, no desert) at Disney cast cafeterias... it's about $9.

2). Perks: Universal has better discounts for it's team members. Universal gives each team member a flipping turkey for thanksgiving. Universal starts you out at a 35% discount on merch with a 50% for Christmas. Disney gives you a fifty cent plastic christmas ornament for the holidays. You have to work three years at Disney to get a 35% discount of merch and you only get 40% off at Christmas.

3). General treatment of Employees: Universal treats you as much more human than Disney does. Disney is well known for the low moral of their works because of the way that Disney treats its workers. Universal is a complete 180.

So, Disney taking away Main Gates from workers is not surprising. They screwed over Seasonal Cast already last year already. Basically, after a college program there was always an option for those cast to go seasonal (and then part time or full time as slots opened up). Well, Disney told a group of college program kids that they could remain seasonal so a bunch of them signed leases to stay in Orlando. Then, TWO DAYS BEFORE THEIR PROGRAM WAS OVER, Disney changed the rules and did (essentially) did away with "going Seasonal." So all those hard working people were SOL.

Disney World treats its hard working cast like garbage. Just like Disney World now treats its guests like garbage by raising prices BUT maintaining the parks like garbage.

You mean the 2% discount after automatic 18% gratuity based on the pre-discounted price of the bill? Which also pretty much guarantees crap service since the server knows they're gonna get a tip regardless?

You know what's funny is that Disneyland AND California Adventure give a discount on quick service and both parks have table service locations but to even USE it at a table service location in a park at WDW it has to be the 4th full moon of autumn on a Tuesday at precisely 8:46pm and your party can be no more than 6.5 people (I jest but seriously the guidelines for even being able to use the discount have gotten so ridiculous it's almost not worth it).

I seriously don't get why Disney is so stingy on their quick service. It's impossible to get a discount there, even Annual Passholders don't get a discount (meanwhile, Premier AP's at Universal get 20% off and their employees get 20-35% off I can't really remember off the top of my head). I get that neither full or quick service is hurting for revenue but I feel like if I stuck a piece of coal up Disney's collective butt it would come out a diamond.

It's all just corporate greed. They can easily give CMs more but they simply won't because unemployment in central FL is so high that if you don't want to work for that wage, someone will. This is how they run their operation and is their excuse for not paying more. The actual labor involved is the same in any state yet their wage is always $3-$4 lower. You also do NOT need a union in the state of FL and the dues for those Disney unions are often more than health insurance.

CM perks are the only thing CMs can cling to in these situations yet Disney keeps cutting them. I agree the Christmas gift is a joke, and many CMs don't even take them home because it's simply embarrassing to show their families how they were "appreciated" by the company they work for and care about.

 

[xdan0920]

One of the most disgustingly ignorant comments I've ever read.
Do you want to pay for me to go to school? I'd love for you to hand me a half a millions dollars for it. ANYONE working full time ANYWHERE should make enough to survive. Period.

Ah, a poster from beyond the grave. What job did you have that didn't allow you to survive? I want to try and avoid it if possible.

edit to add....

Ghost college seems very expensive. or is it just the conversion rate that's throwing me?

 

[French Quarter]

CM perks are the only thing CMs can cling to in these situations yet Disney keeps cutting them. I agree the Christmas gift is a joke, and many CMs don't even take them home because it's simply embarrassing to show their families how they were "appreciated" by the company they work for and care about.

Wait a sec...I can't speak about how CMs are paid or treated because I'm not one and don't know much about that. However, I can comment on the Christmas perk. There are plenty of people who receive nothing from their employers during the holidays. I know because I am one of them. It has never occurred to me to get upset about this. Gifts are nice but shouldn't be expected.

 

[raven]

Wait a sec...I can't speak about how CMs are paid or treated because I'm not one and don't know much about that. However, I can comment on the Christmas perk. There are plenty of people who receive nothing from their employers during the holidays. I know because I am one of them. It has never occurred to me to get upset about this. Gifts are nice but shouldn't be expected.

No but they give them out year after year and every year they keep getting smaller and smaller. Discounts are also smaller for the holiday and can be used less time than before.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Discounts are also smaller for the holiday and can be used less time than before.

I'm not sure what you mean here. 20% merch discounts increase to 40%. Rooms discounts go from 40% for friends and family and 50% for cast members to 50% and 60% respectively.

CM perks are the only thing CMs can cling to in these situations yet Disney keeps cutting them. I agree the Christmas gift is a joke, and many CMs don't even take them home because it's simply embarrassing to show their families how they were "appreciated" by the company they work for and care about.

Sentimental nonsense. Employment is not about being appreciated, it's about doing a job for money. Disney's obligation to "appreciate" their employees extends no further than paying them their agreed upon wage in a timely and accurate manner.

You also do NOT need a union in the state of FL and the dues for those Disney unions are often more than health insurance.

CMs don't have to join the unions. It would be better for both Disney and the CM if they did not.

 

[Andrew C]

Sentimental nonsense. Employment is not about being appreciated, it's about doing a job for money. Disney's obligation to "appreciate" their employees extends no further than paying them their agreed upon wage in a timely and accurate manner.

ehh, CM's should also feel like they receive the proper support and trust from their managers. Otherwise, even the top performers will eventually disengage and seek employment elsewhere. Although, creating a trusting environment isn't going to happen by giving a few additional perks or Christmas gifts.

 

[rucifee]

CMs don't have to join the unions. It would be better for both Disney and the CM if they did not.

I'm not pro-union by any stretch but if CMs are joining a union when they sign onto TWDC, it means TWDC is not providing enough incentive for CMs to not join the union. Seeing the way TWDC treated some of their IT staff earlier in the year, CMs joining a union does not surprise me and I can't blame them for it as much as I dislike unions. I have to disagree that it would be better for the CM if they did not, unfortunately.

 

[raven]

I'm not sure what you mean here. 20% merch discounts increase to 40%. Rooms discounts go from 40% for friends and family and 50% for cast members to 50% and 60% respectively.

Actually, Disney used to give 50% merchandise discount to CMs for a certain time during the holidays.

Sentimental nonsense. Employment is not about being appreciated, it's about doing a job for money. Disney's obligation to "appreciate" their employees extends no further than paying them their agreed upon wage in a timely and accurate manner.

It's this kind of attitude in Disney management that ruins their employment reputation. There are Fanatic Cards to use but some leaders never give them out saying "It's your job to go Above & Beyond so you get no recognition." Everyone knows people don't flock to work at Disney for money because their pay is so substandard. They have to "pay" in perks and appreciation to keep their hardworking, low paid employees.

CMs don't have to join the unions. It would be better for both Disney and the CM if they did not.

That was my point. My $14/hr job up north had a $200/year union fee. Most CM unions charge $500/year for their $8.75/hr job!

 

[rucifee]

It's this kind of attitude in Disney management that ruins their employment reputation. There are Fanatic Cards to use but some leaders never give them out saying "It's your job to go Above & Beyond so you get no recognition." Everyone knows people don't flock to work at Disney for money because their pay is so substandard. They have to "pay" in perks and appreciation to keep their hardworking, low paid employees.

"No business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country." - FDR

 

[CaptainAmerica]

ehh, CM's should also feel like they receive the proper support and trust from their managers. Otherwise, even the top performers will eventually disengage and seek employment elsewhere. Although, creating a trusting environment isn't going to happen by giving a few additional perks or Christmas gifts.

Now we're talking about different issues. If you want to argue that mid-level operations management at WDW does a poor job of creating a trusting and empowering work environment, I'm right there with you. If you want to argue that Disney does a poor job of recognizing top performers and keeping them engaged and satisfied, I agree 100%. But I don't think that has anything to do with the "base" perks given to even the worst cast members.

I'm not pro-union by any stretch but if CMs are joining a union when they sign onto TWDC, it means TWDC is not providing enough incentive for CMs to not join the union. Seeing the way TWDC treated some of their IT staff earlier in the year, CMs joining a union does not surprise me and I can't blame them for it as much as I dislike unions. I have to disagree that it would be better for the CM if they did not, unfortunately.

Unions have their place. They're very effective in skilled or semi-skilled positions like security, nursing, welding, electrical, performance, etc. They do very little in low-skill* environments where workers are in abundant supply at low wages. The big problem that Disney has is that the union has negotiated a time slot into every Traditions class for new hourly hires. After Disney gives their spiel, all Disney management has to leave the room and the union rep comes in to give his presentation. He then says things like "let's get you signed up!" implying that it's mandatory for the CMs to join the union without explicitly saying so. Only CMs who enter that room knowing what to expect are ever aware the the union is optional.

*Before people flame me, "low-skill" is the economic category of labor that front line CMs fall under. That does not mean they have no skills in life or the workplace.

It's this kind of attitude in Disney management that ruins their employment reputation. There are Fanatic Cards to use but some leaders never give them out saying "It's your job to go Above & Beyond so you get no recognition." Everyone knows people don't flock to work at Disney for money because their pay is so substandard. They have to "pay" in perks and appreciation to keep their hardworking, low paid employees.

As I say above, I agree that there should be increased incentive for those who go above and beyond, but those opportunities should be tangible development and career advancement, not piddly Christmas merchandise discounts.

"No business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country." - FDR

I don't want to dive into the minimum wage argument, but low-wage jobs are not supposed to be anyone's career. $8.50 is absolutely a "living wage" if you're a teenager who just needs to fill the gas tank or college student working for beer money. If Disney (and McDonald's and Walmart and everyone else) starting paying every worker the equivilant of a "living wage" for a dad with three kids and a mortgage, no teenager or low-skilled worker would ever get a job again because they'd be priced out of the market. Look at unemployment in inner cities where minimum wages are high. Low-wage jobs exist so that first-time workers learn to show up on time, do a job with a smile on their face, get along with different types of people, and build skills so that they can move on to those living wage jobs you talk about. It's like playing minor league baseball. Nobody wants to be in the minor leagues forever, but you put in your time so that eventually you can make the majors.

 

[French Quarter]

No but they give them out year after year and every year they keep getting smaller and smaller. Discounts are also smaller for the holiday and can be used less time than before.

Is this something that is in a CM's contract? I think that this is true across all jobs that perks and gifts are becoming leaner. It is a sign of the times. I think it's nice if a company gives a token to acknowledge their workers during the holidays but I think it's a little strange to complain that they should be giving out turkeys or something more!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Is this something that is in a CM's contract? I think that this is true across all jobs that perks and gifts are becoming leaner. It is a sign of the times. I think it's nice if a company gives a token to acknowledge their workers during the holidays but I think it's a little strange to complain that they should be giving out turkeys or something more!

Also, a turkey is what, $20?