Walmart and Disney are among the top 12 employers that laid collectively more than 100,000 workers during the Covid pandemic, according to a report released Tuesday by a House subcommittee.
The investigation found that hourly workers were more likely to quit and less likely to be promoted, a situation that disproportionately affected women, workers of color and older workers.
“Today’s report demonstrates that the inequities observed during this crisis are deeply rooted in our economy and have persisted throughout the pandemic,” Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., chair of the subcommittee, said in a statement. “These findings underscore the urgent need to address inequality as we continue to work to achieve a strong, sustainable, and equitable economic future.”
The subcommittee recommended a universal paid-leave structure and better data recording under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
The findings detailed staffing inequities at 12 companies: AT&T, Berkshire Hathaway, Boeing, Chevron, Cisco, Citigroup, Comcast, ExxonMobil, Oracle, Salesforce, Walmart and Walt Disney.
According to the subcommittee, Disney’s 32,000 laid off is on top of the list followed by Boeing with 26,000 laid off. The nation’s biggest employer Walmart laid off 1,240.
The subcommittee’s report is based on a December 2021 survey of 12 of the nation’s largest employers that also reported significant layoffs in 2020.
