Employees started getting notified today. They will have the option to interview for positions with the outside company taking over.
17 replies (most recent on top)
Well said.
Games employees could:
1) interview for current openings available at their park
2) interview for openings w/ new vendor
3) severance package
Regardless of how you describe it, effectively this was yet another labor reduction - #11 if you're counting. And of course the email sent from the new "who ever and whatever newly created SEA exec" did everything but accept any responsibility for the lack of leadership and accountability of managers and VPs in Merchandise that led to these areas operating at a deficit for so long that a 3rd party contractor became our best business option. Oh, my bad - "leaders" and "senior leaders." Front line employees take a hit once again for inept and incompetent management. (Btw, isn't it funny how we're required to call them "leaders" when the id–ts in these jobs do anything but lead?)
I guess the money saved by eliminating the games deptartments in multiple parks (and the call center) is how SEA is paying for all the new positions at corp we've been told are being created? How many times is SEA planning on creating jobs and promoting teacher's pets only to have layoffs again later, throwing the entire operation of the business into another complete disaster because no one knows anyone and no one knows what any of these new people do?
Or did those savings just cover the expenses for all the SEA execs to go to Dubai to create another park to run into the ground? By the time SEA finally opens shop, based on how they manage everything else, the park will be equivalent to a glorified roadside carnival. Dubai is the luxury capital of the world. Only the best will do, and nothing at SEA parks is even remotely world class. The SEA norm of cutting corners won't cut it over there.
Why did SEA even bother to spend money to incorporate KAIZEN initiatives, yet fail to follow any of the KAIZEN efficiencies in running the business?
SEA is nothing more than a case study of what not to do.
Umm they're being transferred to other merch areas– hello spring break. No need to be dramatic. Different operation, same pay. Ive never walked by any games amb and thought.. boy do they love their job... except for one gentleman. As much as I despise this company, I think this is one of the best decisions theyve had in a long while.
Regarding the post, "No layoffs. They will be absorbed elsewhere in the park." They'll be absorbed...yes, but probably in lower paying positions or hard to fill positions that are under paid. No matter how it goes down now, our fellow team members lives have be disrupted, placed in uncertainty. Frustration, anger, and sorrow...that's what SEA has become for our Ambassadors.
Get disciplined...not at my park. Observed an IQS on a guy who had 29 write-up for till variances ranging from 2.5% to 15.7%...still working for the park.
HR can't recruit great people because of low wages. Add to that the now downward spiral of time off and continuing worsening of are other benefits, it's no wonder.
I had a discussion with one of our 30 year team members who stated, "After being here for 30 years, through all the ups and downs, I feel as though I've wasted my life here". Wow! What a statement.
Love how our top leadership was pushed out because of King Gus' reign; who by the way ran back to Carnival Cruise Lines...probably dumping more gray water and trash in our oceans. Now SEA has brought a law suit against Carl Lum, former San Antonio Park President, accusing him of breaching a noncompete clause. Carl is now at Dollywood. John Reilly, former Interim CEO of SEA, is now Chief Operating Officer at Palace Entertainment. Mark Pauls, former Park President for SEA Orlando, is now the President of Pauls Consulting. Who's next to be pushed out...oh ya, all of us.
Let's cut the sniping. Were all unhappy with the direction. Typos happen and such.
One piece of information I got yesterday about this company is they are really aggressive in who works for them. So if you arent performing you will def get discipline. So any volunteers to go to them just be aware of that going in.
This model is very close to the basic idea of the call center. When you go 3rd party if you need more or less staff, you don't have to deal with being the bad guy of cutting hours or laying off people. Reading the email about the change really it is something that maybe if they had put more into keeping the rewards in good shape they could make it worth playing SeaWorld games.
They leave prizes out constantly in the elements and are such low quality. I would rather buy a plushie online using Amazon than spend money here for a toy that was outside in the rain multiple times.
The scaling for growth comment in said email... well if only they would stop cutting things they could get actual growth without screwing us over.
To reply to the one post that actually made an effort:
Yeah it’s sh–ty. They’re probably banking on the new company making more on the top line, and then taking their cut without having to pay for product, maintenance parts or labor and then making more in the end. A lot of parks are trying this model with some of the ancillary business pieces.
Corruption and greed at its best.
So, adding a third party to take from the pie is good how?
I went to their website and they've got the same old cr@p games as we've currently got..... basketball, ring toss....plinko.
Can one of you "glass is full" (salaried) ambassadors explain who's going to loose here? Will SW pay more for this supposed expertise of the third party? Will the third party provide this expertise for free.....or will the affected ambassadors loose even more benefits and pay?
We've gone from employees to ambassadors and now Id!ot's. What are we waiting on? The writing is on the wall!
Officially confirmed in an email today that went to all team members with email. The last post was accurate with the three options
1) Transfer into another department that has an available opening
2) Take a severance package - which is based on how long you've worked there
3) Interview with the new company
No layoffs. They will be absorbed elsewhere in the park.
Not sure, but the 2014 layoffs included PT ambassadors in certain areas.
Are they getting let go then?
It’s one thing to lay-off salaried and full time staff, but another to let go of 16-17 year olds making minimum wage. They couldn’t find them positions elsewhere in the park?
Fun news for orlando too....
The new games area they put in last year at arctic is getting replaced already with another alcohol sales location. The equipment was supposed to be shipped to Tampa too .. wouldnt surprise me if our games employees start getting the same offer
Busch Gardens Tampa
Which park?