Some employees of Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida, felt pressure to continue working despite inclement weather conditions ahead of the landfall of Hurricane Milton, according to a report by Business Insider.

The Category 3 Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida Wednesday, killing at least 16 residents and causing destruction in the Tampa Bay area.

It followed the arrival of Hurricane Helene days earlier, which sparked emergency declarations in multiple states.

Four anonymous employees, known in the parks as “cast members,” told Business Insider they stayed behind Wednesday after Disney closed its four parks to guests due to the coming storm. They reportedly described feeling as though they were expected to remain on the job and assist with closing the parks.

One employee told the publication the parks were largely empty ahead of the storm, with most visitors choosing to stay indoors.

“I wish the park wouldn’t have opened up for the day at all,” another employee said.

Disney employees can reportedly earn extra pay for working a “ride out” shift, during which they accompany stranded guests to shelter during a storm. These shifts are reportedly intended to be voluntary and typically include a private room where the employees can sleep. Cast members told the publication they did not receive these accommodations while working ahead of Milton.

Some who worked full shifts Wednesday reportedly said they did so because they feared losing out on pay by clocking out early. Others told the publication they stayed despite wishing they had time to get gas and groceries ahead of the storm.

A spokesperson for Disney said thousands of employees volunteered for “ride out” shifts and other recovery efforts, adding that any employees whose shifts were impacted by park closures received disruption pay.

Employees reportedly said the Disney parks run a points-based demerit system for missed shifts with little leeway for extreme scenarios. Those who accumulate a significant number of points are allegedly at risk of being fired.

“Your house could be underwater, and they would be like, ‘Well, call out and take the point,'” an employee reportedly explained.

A spokesperson for Disney said the company always prioritizes the safety of its employees.

“Safety is always our first and most important factor when making decisions that will affect our cast members and guests,” the spokesperson said. “And throughout the storm, we provided frequent and timely updates on our changes to make sure they returned home hours before the worst of the weather reached Central Florida.”

Nearby attractions Universal Orlando and SeaWorld also shuttered ahead of the storm.

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