Walt Disney will reportedly stop paying more than 100,000 staff this week amid coronavirus closures of theme parks and attractions.
Disney will save up to $500 million (£400 million) a month as a result, according to the Financial Times.
Full healthcare benefits for staff placed on unpaid leave will be provided.
But its US employees were urged to apply for government benefits through the $2 trillion White House coronavirus stimulus package.
The world’s biggest entertainment group operates in the US, Europe and Asia.
The company saw operating income from its theme parks, experiences and products business division increase 9% for the last three months of 2019 to $2.3 billion.
Walt Disney Company executive chairman Bob Iger has forecast that temperature checks of visitors could become part of its normal routine along with bag checks when theme park re-open, the BBC reported.