Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger reached out to company staff after the holidays, celebrating some recent successes but also calling on hybrid workers to return to the office starting in March.
What’s going on:
- Disney CEO Bob Iger sent an email to Walt Disney Company staff celebrating a recent success over the holiday period, though there was something else in the email that is sure to catch the eye of a select number of employees who reviewed their inbox this morning.
- After celebrating the success of box office comebacks and milestone anniversaries of Broadway productions, Iger reminds the team that in-person environments are key to fueling creativity, which Iger believes is “The heart and soul who we are and what we do”.
- She adds that “the ability to connect, observe and create with your peers” is irreplaceable and something that comes from being physically together.
- According to the email, Iger says that starting March 1, employees currently working a hybrid schedule will be asked to report in person to the site four days a week.
- You can read Iger’s full email below.
Happy New Year! I hope everyone found time to rest and recharge over the holidays.
Since returning to Disney, I have been busy catching up on the many exciting projects underway across all of our businesses, and have been inspired by your boundless creativity and the remarkable success of many of your recent endeavors.
Thought I’d mention a few:
For the seventh consecutive year, Walt Disney Studios was the number one studio at the box office and last week, Avatar: The Path of Water it became the seventh highest-grossing film of all time, and its success continues to grow. The Lion King celebrated its 25th anniversary on Broadway in November, one of only three productions in history to achieve this incredible milestone. Disney General Entertainment shows received an industry-leading number of mentions on year-end “Best of” lists, including seven of the 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 welcomed 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 The team expertly handled Damar Hamlin’s tragic injury, showing grace under pressure and presenting the facts to viewers with absolute respect and sensitivity. Achievements like these remind me how special our Company is.
I also wanted to let you know that as I’ve met with teams from across the company over the past few months, I’ve been reminded of the tremendous value of 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. I believe that working together more in person will benefit the creativity, culture and careers of our Company employees.
Starting March 1, employees currently working hybrid will be required to spend four days a week on site, noting Monday through Thursday as in-person business days. Stay tuned for more details.
As we embark on a new year, Disney’s historic 100th anniversary and all the opportunities that lie ahead, we have many reasons to be excited about the future. Certainly, this is a time of tremendous change, for our Company, for our industry, and for the global economy, but despite the challenges, deep down I remain optimistic.
Thanks. It is an honor to be able to work by your side.
best bob