ESPN has sent out notice to their employees that they will be laying off some 300 people, and not filling close to 200 open positions.

The news came down late last week, and already, the layoffs have begun at the Bristol, Connecticut cable sports giant.

Jimmy Pitaro, the chairman of ESPN, told nbcconnecticut.com that the COVID-19 pandemic is to blame for having a negative economic impact, thus the need for the layoffs.

We are parting ways with many exceptional teammates, all of whom have made important contributions to ESPN. These are not easy decisions, and we will work hard to make their transitions easier. Prior to the pandemic, we had been deeply engaged in strategizing how best to position ESPN for future success amidst tremendous disruption in how fans consume sports.  The pandemic’s significant impact on our business clearly accelerated those forward-looking discussions. Today is hard because ESPN has always been — and will always be — fortified by its fantastic people.  Teamwork, dedication, spirit and grit have built this place and are what make ESPN special.

Since the layoff announcement, many ESPN employees took to twitter to either post their goodbyes to coworkers, or sound off a bit about the layoffs.

This pandemic has affected multiple jobs across the nation, and we can only hope for a full recovery in the future. Best of luck to all!

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