CAA Sports confirmed that it is implementing workforce reductions, including laying off 90 agents and executives across all departments of the company and furloughing 275 assistants and other hourly employees. CAA will continue to pay the health care premiums for those being furloughed, the company said in a statement. It was not immediately clear how CAA Sports was affected by the workforce reductions, but reports earlier in the day said the division is expected to be among the hardest hit (Liz Mullen, SBJ Unpacks). DEADLINE's Kroll & Fleming Jr. noted this is the first layoff exercise that the agency has gone through to this point, though "technically the affected hourly employees aren't being let go, they are being shelved for now." Those furloughed are "primarily assistants, receptionists, mailroom and others whose roles are needed only when the agency is operating from headquarters." CAA in April announced a plan to "weather the coronavirus pandemic, with no layoffs, but companywide paycuts up to 50% on a progressive scale," with CAA President Richard Lovett, Managing Dir & co-Founder Bryan Lourd and Managing Partner & co-Chair Kevin Huvane all "taking no salary for a year" (DEADLINE.com, 7/28). In L.A., Wendy Lee notes other major talent agencies, including United Talent Agency and William Morris Endeavor, also have "implemented cost-cutting measures" (L.A. TIMES, 7/29).
