Slashdot Mirror
Electronic Arts Facing Possible Class Action Lawsuit
As a follow-up to yesterday's story about a frustrated EA employee's spouse, several readers wrote in to report that EA is now facing a possible class action lawsuit from disgruntled employees. Besides the Gamespot coverage, Kotaku has a discussion of it as well. To add to the "frustrated EA worker" momentum, a former employee named Joe Straitiff has posted about his experiences as well. From his post: "So I'm posting under my real name -- you have to stand up to this type of thing or it will continue. And every company will become EA so that can compete... Remember, you can't spell ExploitAtion without EA."
Instead of relying on the courts to help them in Bush's United States of Avarice, they should unionize, and strike.
The Uncoveror: It's the real news.
And every company will become EA so that can compete... Remember, you can't spell ExploitAtion without EA. Also remember that you can't type
No, this is one case where american free markets favor american workers. After a few years of outsourcing, EA will be losing money to debug crazy indian code which doesn't even come close to modeling the english language game design. With the game industry's desperate need to ship early, you'll definitely see some of those problems. 5 runs for a "ground double rule" in MVP Baseball 2007? No thanks, I'll try "Former EA Guys Baseball" instead.
If EA's the whole industry, then the industry is apparently full of ranting whiners.
Read through this guy's story. The whole thing. He went to work for a company (Maxis) that he knew was being slowly drawn into the EA collective. He was given a 6-digit relocation package because he complained about the move.
I don't know about you, but if I'm upper management and offer a 6-digit package to an employee, I expect 6-digit work. None of this "I'm late because of my sick daughter" crap. None of this "I don't need to do these extra tasks given at the last minute, but were clearly written down and assigned to me". You're paid to do what I assign you.
Not to mention, this guy is a game programmer. He's not coding for NASA or nuclear scientists, he's putting together a few SimCity expansions. His "complaint" about getting moved to the Urbz project from the Sims was particularly laughable. Management doesn't need to "consult" with programmers before they change projects. Any programmer that thinks that has an extremely big (nay, unrescuable) ego.
I can understand complaining about the hours, or thinking the workload is rough, but you don't sit there and *not do work* because you don't like it. This guy was basically giving the middle finger to management, and management gave him more than enough chances to put his finger down and realize a) he's getting paid a damn fine salary for being a game program and b) you need to lose the attitude if you want to survive at any company. If I was in EA's shoes, I would've fired his ass, too.
Ok, lets look at what this guy said in his post..
.......More whining snipped
Then it happened -- Maxis was moved to EA redwood shores. Drawn into the mothership. I didn't want to move so I gave them a huge list of "must-have" things or I wouldn't move. They wanted me badly and met all of those desires. They made extra-sure to keep me quiet about what I got because the deal was one of the top 10 for the studio (we're talking above six figures here just for the relocation package...).
So this guy was paid over $100,000 to move for his job? How many tech people nowadays would get over $100,000 to relocate?
Coincidentally, when the move happened they cancelled SimCity again, and put me on another project (The Urbz). And I do mean PUT me on -- I was never consulted, talked to, or anything.
Oh shit! Poor baby! You mean they paid you over $100,000 to relocate and they actually expected to be able to TELL you what work they wanted done? How silly of them! That kinda stuff never happens to other programmers! We nevvvvvvvvver get projects cancelled or end up doing shit work.
One day my new manager came over, told me he was my new manager and gave me a pile of work...
OMG! You ended up with a new manager and you weren't informed by the higher ups? And he expected you to WORK? Wow, you better form a union! In all the IT departments where I worked, if anyone was replaced they told everyone in the department all the way down to the helpdesk guys. Hell, they even checked with the janitors sometimes.
Now, I was peeved this happened, at least they could've asked me to go on the project.
Look, if you work in the video game industry as a programmer (or anything else for that matter) your job is fun and in demand. It's pretty much expected that you are going to have to work long hours during crunch time. There are plenty of People who would put in 12-14 hours a day to get to work on a game that ships from EA so just stop your bitching and step aside if you can't hack it or if your over $100,000 relocation fee and salary aren't enough. If you want more time with your family get a 9-5 job as a secratary or something. Better yet maybe your wife can work and you can stay home and clean. You see Joe, programmers, especially video game programmers are hardcore men of steel, not pussies that whine about shit like overtime.
People like Joe straitiff give the American Worker a bad name.
You must have an MBA... don't you have resources to go waste?
Alito: A vote for Alito is a punch in the eye to put that bitch back in her place!