EA to Pay
Electronic Arts to share the wealth with disgruntled workers. Well, some of it.
Electronic Arts is known for many things in the videogames industry. The company’s huge and annually updated portfolio of sports sims, an equally large range of licensed IP franchises, and a deeply ingrained unwillingness to deviate from this undoubtedly profitable formula.
More recently, the behemoth has received rather more unwelcome publicity in the form of growing reports of unsympathetic treatment of their hard-worked development staff. The infamous, anonymously-penned ‘EA Spouse’ forum posting (relive it here) was one woman’s outpouring of rage at the treatment of her husband, in which she bitterly accused the company directors of destroying the lives of their employees and families in pursuit of profit.
In another example in 2004, lead animator Jamie Kirschenbaum filed a lawsuit against the industry megalith, accusing it of manipulating California state labour laws to avoid paying overtime to their many animators and artists. The law states that decision-making employees whose work requires advanced knowledge or creative talent are exempt from earning overtime pay. But Kirschenbaum asserted that his job, while theoretically artistic, was in fact mere spadework into which nobody could have any truly creative input.
In a sizeable U-turn, EA will settle the class-action dispute, re-classifying salaried employers and instead paying them by the hour. It will pay out $15.6 million. But people working in these positions will no longer be eligible for stock options or a yearly bonus. As EA gives, it also takes away, and the loss of these privileges send out the clear message that employees will have to work a certain amount of overtime each year to earn the equivalent of their old salary plus benefits.
Nevertheless, paying people for the actual amount of time they have spent working for you is a step forward, and the company’s employees in Redwood City, CA are presumably pleased with the long overdue decision. But the decision will only apply to EA employees there. Over here in Blighty, reports continue to emanate from the company’s UK Studio of a continued Dickensian workhouse ethic. It’s not uncommon for developers working on such games as Harry Potter to be expected to uncomplainingly work enormous amounts of overtime. During ‘crunch’ periods, teams often work into the small hours and are still expected to come in during the weekend.
Late hours and pizza have been part of the games industry, at least in the west, pretty much since its inception. But while in the past, games programmers were driven by a desire to perfect something in which they had a vested creative interest, these days large publishers can be too eager to exploit this very ethic to drive up their profits. Know an over-worked games developer? Or perhaps you are one (in which case, shouldn’t you be working?) Share your misery in the forum below!
More recently, the behemoth has received rather more unwelcome publicity in the form of growing reports of unsympathetic treatment of their hard-worked development staff. The infamous, anonymously-penned ‘EA Spouse’ forum posting (relive it here) was one woman’s outpouring of rage at the treatment of her husband, in which she bitterly accused the company directors of destroying the lives of their employees and families in pursuit of profit.
In another example in 2004, lead animator Jamie Kirschenbaum filed a lawsuit against the industry megalith, accusing it of manipulating California state labour laws to avoid paying overtime to their many animators and artists. The law states that decision-making employees whose work requires advanced knowledge or creative talent are exempt from earning overtime pay. But Kirschenbaum asserted that his job, while theoretically artistic, was in fact mere spadework into which nobody could have any truly creative input.
In a sizeable U-turn, EA will settle the class-action dispute, re-classifying salaried employers and instead paying them by the hour. It will pay out $15.6 million. But people working in these positions will no longer be eligible for stock options or a yearly bonus. As EA gives, it also takes away, and the loss of these privileges send out the clear message that employees will have to work a certain amount of overtime each year to earn the equivalent of their old salary plus benefits.
Nevertheless, paying people for the actual amount of time they have spent working for you is a step forward, and the company’s employees in Redwood City, CA are presumably pleased with the long overdue decision. But the decision will only apply to EA employees there. Over here in Blighty, reports continue to emanate from the company’s UK Studio of a continued Dickensian workhouse ethic. It’s not uncommon for developers working on such games as Harry Potter to be expected to uncomplainingly work enormous amounts of overtime. During ‘crunch’ periods, teams often work into the small hours and are still expected to come in during the weekend.
Late hours and pizza have been part of the games industry, at least in the west, pretty much since its inception. But while in the past, games programmers were driven by a desire to perfect something in which they had a vested creative interest, these days large publishers can be too eager to exploit this very ethic to drive up their profits. Know an over-worked games developer? Or perhaps you are one (in which case, shouldn’t you be working?) Share your misery in the forum below!
Companies:
Electronic Arts
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Comments
OptimusP 10 Oct 2005 16:46
1/6
Very fitting picture you added :p.
And yes EA is evil and stuff... EA is the gameindustry's symbol of matured capatilism and shows perfectly whats good about (profits!!) and bad(kill creativity!!!) about it.
And yes EA is evil and stuff... EA is the gameindustry's symbol of matured capatilism and shows perfectly whats good about (profits!!) and bad(kill creativity!!!) about it.
VastikRoot 10 Oct 2005 17:01
2/6
The industry as a whole needs to change. Late hours and pizza seem to be written into the very core of how the industry works. It's not good for the people working in it and it's not good for the games either.
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Joji 10 Oct 2005 19:53
3/6
Totally agree with Optimus on the very fitting pic to this news post. I can just imagine the EA execs walking up and down cracking their whip with a jewel encrusted smile. ''Work you bastards'' they cry.
I think it's true that something has to change. development staff are not Metropolis type robots there to work til they drop. EA have to give the minds behind their money some respect and it's good to see them giving these guy the money they are owed. I'm sure it could have been a more ugly affair.
Being the evil empire of gaming, EA must take a good look at themselves and what they have become. A great but greedy company that seems to care about money more than it's employees. I can't believe these guys at EA have to give up their share options as consolation (that's just wrong and I was them I'd go on strike to have them reinstated).
A damn good strike is needed against this empire. Forget the games because when the people that are vital to making the games have no power, this industry will become a very new type of Dickens workhouse. That would be bad for gaming.
Lastly I also think EA should give their staff a little freedom to work on original titles occassionally (maybe even on a reward basis) instead of sport game no. 127.
I think it's true that something has to change. development staff are not Metropolis type robots there to work til they drop. EA have to give the minds behind their money some respect and it's good to see them giving these guy the money they are owed. I'm sure it could have been a more ugly affair.
Being the evil empire of gaming, EA must take a good look at themselves and what they have become. A great but greedy company that seems to care about money more than it's employees. I can't believe these guys at EA have to give up their share options as consolation (that's just wrong and I was them I'd go on strike to have them reinstated).
A damn good strike is needed against this empire. Forget the games because when the people that are vital to making the games have no power, this industry will become a very new type of Dickens workhouse. That would be bad for gaming.
Lastly I also think EA should give their staff a little freedom to work on original titles occassionally (maybe even on a reward basis) instead of sport game no. 127.
DoctorDee 11 Oct 2005 09:22
4/6
VastikRoot wrote:
The industry as a whole needs to change. Late hours and pizza seem to be written into the very core of how the industry works. It's not good for the people working in it and it's not good for the games either.
The thing is, EA is not evil per se. It just operates in a culture and an economy that is evil by default.
Unrestrained free market capitalism teaches individuals and corporations that acquisition is the most noble aim.
Companies are not happy to grow to a size whereby they are profitable and pay decent salaries and make good products and offer good customer service. In fact, companies do not see these things as their goals. Their only acknowledged goal is to create wealth for their shareholders.
And the way to do this is to grow sales by mercilessly marketing your products in every ad break, and by cutting cost - by working your employees to the bone. Originality and innovation is seen as a risk and is therefore elimitated as a duty to the shareholders to maximise revenues.
Corporations take everything that is good and spoilt it in the name of profit. EA operates within this culture, and has to compete and survive in this culture.
Pat the Cat 11 Oct 2005 09:59
5/6
BA bit harsh mate... and intercorps are different to nationalcorps.
National corps are very much tied to one economy, one set of laws. They have to operate in the same financial arena with the same labour laws.
Intercorps have to function within lots of different sets.
My point here is that, an intercorp that doesn't invest in and encourage new ideas, doesn't at least ASSESS how risky a new idea, is doomed. Because the companies that do innovate and get their product lines right are the ones that DO generate the wealth for the shareholders. The ones that don't get eaten.
I think you were there at the row I had with Greg over "Greed is Good". I maintained that Appetite is Necessary - but Greed is Evil.
I broadly agree with you, save on the innovation part. Sure, no doubt we've both had a lot of doors slammed in our faces - but new stuff does still come out.
Incidentally, you up for a 'lil (and I do mean TINY) design project? I've got the guts of a beast mapped out in my head, but I could do with someone to come up with a visual design.
I can offer nowt for it - except a 50/50 split in the Intellectual Property rights.
Interested? Won't happen for a couple of weeks, but I could come up, we both sign an NDA/Partnership and your crayon will fly across the paper when you hear it. Would only take - oh, an hour tops for th meeting.
EDIT: You've got to have a dream
You've got to have a dream
Else how you gonna have a dream come true? :)
National corps are very much tied to one economy, one set of laws. They have to operate in the same financial arena with the same labour laws.
Intercorps have to function within lots of different sets.
My point here is that, an intercorp that doesn't invest in and encourage new ideas, doesn't at least ASSESS how risky a new idea, is doomed. Because the companies that do innovate and get their product lines right are the ones that DO generate the wealth for the shareholders. The ones that don't get eaten.
I think you were there at the row I had with Greg over "Greed is Good". I maintained that Appetite is Necessary - but Greed is Evil.
I broadly agree with you, save on the innovation part. Sure, no doubt we've both had a lot of doors slammed in our faces - but new stuff does still come out.
Incidentally, you up for a 'lil (and I do mean TINY) design project? I've got the guts of a beast mapped out in my head, but I could do with someone to come up with a visual design.
I can offer nowt for it - except a 50/50 split in the Intellectual Property rights.
Interested? Won't happen for a couple of weeks, but I could come up, we both sign an NDA/Partnership and your crayon will fly across the paper when you hear it. Would only take - oh, an hour tops for th meeting.
EDIT: You've got to have a dream
You've got to have a dream
Else how you gonna have a dream come true? :)
DoctorDee 11 Oct 2005 13:06
6/6
Pat the Cat wrote:
National corps are very much tied to one economy, one set of laws. They have to operate in the same financial arena with the same labour laws.
I barely even class them as corps. Just companies.
Pat the Cat wrote:
Interested? Won't happen for a couple of weeks, but I could come up, we both sign an NDA/Partnership and your crayon will fly across the paper when you hear it.
YGM