Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger has reached out to the staff of the company after the holidays, celebrating some recent successes, but also calling hybrid workers back to the office starting in March.
What’s Happening:
- Disney CEO Bob Iger has emailed the staff of the Walt Disney Company celebrating some recent success over the holiday period, though it was something else in the email that is sure to catch the eye of a select number of staff who checked their inbox this morning.
- After celebrating the success of box office returns and milestone anniversaries of Broadway productions, Iger reminds the team that in-person environments are key to driving creativity, what Iger believes is “The heart and soul of who we are and what we do.”
- He adds that “the ability to connect, observe, and create with peers” is irreplaceable, and something that comes from being physically together.
- Per the email, Iger says that beginning on March 1st, employees who currently work on a hybrid schedule will be asked to show up in-person on-site four days a week.
- You can read the full email from Iger below.
- Dear Fellow Employees,
Happy New Year! I hope you all found time to rest and recharge during the holidays.
Since returning to Disney, I’ve been busy catching up on the many exciting projects underway across all our businesses, and I have been inspired by your boundless creativity and the remarkable success of so many of your recent endeavors.
I thought I would mention a few:
For the 7th consecutive year, Walt Disney Studios was the number-one studio at the box office, and last week, Avatar: The Way of Water became the 7th highest grossing film of all time, and its success is only continuing to grow. The Lion King celebrated its 25th anniversary on Broadway in November — one of just three productions in history to achieve this incredible milestone. Disney General Entertainment shows received an industry-leading number of mentions across year-end “Best of” lists, including seven of the top 15 most critically acclaimed television shows of the year. Disney Parks, Experiences and Products finished the year strong as guests celebrated their holiday traditions and rang in the new year at Disney destinations around the world, and Walt Disney Imagineering marked 70 years of groundbreaking innovation and storytelling. And I would be remiss not to mention how the ESPN team expertly handled Damar Hamlin’s tragic injury, showing grace under pressure, and presenting the facts to viewers with utter respect and sensitivity. Accomplishments like these remind me of how special our Company is.
I also wanted to let you know that, as I’ve been meeting with teams throughout the Company over the past few months, I’ve been reminded of the tremendous value in being together with the people you work with. As you’ve heard me say many times, creativity is the heart and soul of who we are and what we do at Disney. And in a creative business like ours, nothing can replace the ability to connect, observe, and create with peers that comes from being physically together, nor the opportunity to grow professionally by learning from leaders and mentors. It is my belief that working together more in-person will benefit the Company’s creativity, culture, and our employees’ careers.
Starting March 1, employees currently working in a hybrid fashion will be asked to spend four days a week on-site, targeting Monday through Thursday as in-person workdays. Stay tuned for additional details.
As we embark on a new year, Disney’s historic 100th anniversary, and all the opportunities before us, we have so many reasons to be excited about the future. Certainly, this is a moment of tremendous change — for our Company, for our industry, and for the global economy — but despite the challenges, at my core I remain an optimist.
Thank you. It’s an honor to be able to work alongside you.
Best, Bob