For more than 35 years SeaWorld has relied on people with disabilities to solve employee turnover and offer a reliable, high-quality workforce.
A Premier Tourist Destination
For 60-plus years, SeaWorld San Diego has been one of San Diego’s premier tourist destinations, home to unique sea life, thrilling rides, world-class exhibits and educational presentations, entertainment, and artisanal food and drink. Set along beautiful Mission Bay Park, visitors enjoy nearly 200 acres of attractive outdoor grounds in a pleasant Mediterranean climate. SeaWorld San Diego’s animal care is Humane Certified, and the park is one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the world.
Situation: Employee Turnover
SeaWorld San Diego faced employee turnover in its frontline roles, typical to the entertainment and hospitality industries. To maintain its standard for excellent customer service and keep its many rides, presentations, and food venues safe and welcoming, the marine theme park and accredited zoo and aquarium needed a reliable workforce.
Solution
In 1987, SeaWorld partnered with PRIDE Industries, the nation’s leading employer of people with disabilities—a workforce known for its high retention and low absenteeism rates. PRIDE Industries also provided its holistic employment model, including a pipeline of trained, eager employees and on-site job coaches who provide support and serve as a communication link between employer and employee.
Results
Since partnering with PRIDE Industries, SeaWorld has enjoyed all the benefits typical of this workforce, including low employee turnover, high morale, continuity, and customer satisfaction.
“We see really good, high retention hiring people with disabilities,” said Sean Daugherty, Park Operations Manager. “The employees PRIDE Industries has connected us with can do any job, any task, the same as anyone else. They show up, they’re committed, and they bring a lot of joy and happiness, too.”
And there’s another benefit that often comes with this workforce.
“They bring a different caliber to the workplace,” said Daugherty. “Punctuality, attendance, motivation. When other employees see that they’re always here, ready to work, ready to go, it sets a tone for the rest of the team.”
“We’ve had a great relationship with SeaWorld for over 37 years,” said PRIDE Industries Employment Specialist Keith Robinson. “They love the employees we’ve brought in.”
Currently, 15 employees with disabilities work at SeaWorld San Diego. Since the park’s opening, an estimated 60 employees have been hired with the help of PRIDE Industries.
“If you’re looking for employees that are going to be on time, that want to do their jobs, that want to learn, this workforce is for you,” said PRIDE Industries Employment Coach John Williamson. “SeaWorld managers come up regularly and thank us, and park guests make it a point to say how helpful our employees are. We provide support to ensure employee success, but they make that part easy.”
The partnership has been so enduring and successful that SeaWorld wants to include another of PRIDE Industries’ employment models: work groups, consisting of three employees and one job coach.
Services Provided
- Greets and Informs Guests
- Food Preparation and Service
- Custodial
- Ride Operations
Lower Employee Turnover and Improves Business
SeaWorld’s experience validates data showing companies that hire people with disabilities gain significant business benefits. Research by the National Institutes of Health found that employing people with disabilities leads to improvements in profitability stemming from low employee turnover, reliability, punctuality, and employee loyalty, as well as an enhanced image to customers and employees alike.
That image matters when it comes to hiring. With as many as 4,500 employees in its peak summer season, SeaWorld is one of the region’s largest businesses. “Being one of the largest employers, we really pride ourselves on making sure we have a very diverse environment,” Daugherty said. “We love to employ people of all backgrounds, and that really makes us stand out to employees and visitors.”
“The employees PRIDE Industries has connected us with can do any job, any task, the same as anyone else. They show up, they’re committed, and they bring a lot of joy and happiness, too.”
