Disney will furlough non-essential employees at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts on April 19 due to the continuing closure of the company’s U.S. theme parks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A letter from Disney about the temporary, short-term furlough was sent to U.S.-based executives, salaried and non-union hourly employees of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

“With the utmost care and consideration, we are instituting a temporary, short-term furlough for executive, salaried and non-union hourly Cast Members based in the U.S. with the exception of those whose roles or projects are crucial to maintaining our operations during this closure period, effective April 19,” the letter from Disney said.

Sign up for our Park Life newsletter and find out what’s new and interesting every week at Southern California’s theme parks. Subscribe here

Disneyland employees, known as cast members in Disney parlance, will continue to be paid through April 18 during the coronavirus closures of the parks. Disney recently announced that executives will take temporary pay cuts of 20% to 30% with the company’s top leaders taking even deeper salary reductions.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland halts annual passholder payments during coronavirus closure

“With no clear indication of when we can restart our businesses, we’re forced to make the difficult decision to take the next step and furlough employees whose jobs aren’t necessary at this time,” Disney officials said in a statement. “The furlough process will begin on April 19, and all impacted workers will remain Disney employees through the duration of the furlough period.”

The letter was sent to non-union employees at the California and Florida theme parks. Disneyland’s union employees make up at least 28,000 of the 31,000 cast members at the two Anaheim theme parks.

“As part of our commitment to our collective bargaining agreements we will be setting up meetings today with the unions,” according to the letter.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland crowds expected to bounce back after coronavirus closure, analysts say

Furloughed employees will receive full healthcare and insurance benefits. Employees can use some or all of their paid time off at the start of the furlough period.

“Once furloughed, they are eligible to receive an extra $600 per week in federal compensation through the $2 trillion economic stimulus bill, as well as state unemployment insurance,” Disney officials said in the statement.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland to raise and lower American flag daily during coronavirus closure

The decision to furlough Disney theme park employees was made in the interest of caring for cast members and protecting the future of Disney, according to the letter.

“As a company and a leadership team, our focus now is on how best to care for our Cast Members – including keeping you safe, protecting your benefits, and preserving your job for the future,” according to the letter. “As we navigate an extraordinarily challenging business climate, we want to best position our company to weather this crisis.”

Disneyland leadership will reach out to employees early next week.

“This certainly is one of the most difficult choices the company has ever faced,” according to the letter. “But we are committed to doing everything we can — even when the decisions are unimaginably hard — to help preserve jobs and help ensure that our Cast Members can return to their roles.”