The LiveJournal of an EA Employee’s Spouse (allegedly written by an EA spouse, people!) detailing the questionable labor practices of gaming giant Electronic Arts is already making the blog rounds. (via: Slashdot)
I’ll pitch in a few insensitive remarks on this.
A. The author levels some pretty serious charges against Electronic Arts, but I’m wondering why (apparently) not a single employee at EA has notified U.S. labor authorities. Either they must enjoy virtual indentured service or we’re only getting half of the story here.
B. If employees are working upwards of 80+ hours a week with no compensation, overtime, or compensatory time off, doesn’t this mean they’re working for half the hourly pay they signed on for? If YOUR employer said you were getting a 50 percent pay cut, wouldn’t you say “take your job and shove it up your ass”?
C. Either there’s some bullshit here or EA employees aren’t terribly bright. If your head hurts from banging it against the brick wall, I really recommend you stop banging it against the brick wall.
But that’s just me. I don’t like headaches. And I’m insensitive.
UPDATE 1: EA employees are bringing suit against EA for unfair and illegal labor practices. (via Kotaku) If AFK Gamer had a staff or at least an intern, this would be a good research project for them. (alas!) I’m still puzzled why employees didn’t call the Feds to crawl up EA’s ass with a microscope; cheaper than lawyers and the claim, if valid, would still be subject to back wages, overtime, etc.
UPDATE 2: If EA recently told employees that the crunch time was over, they lied. (via: GameGossip)
ANOTHER INSENSITIVE REMARK: Per the Kotaku update — “The EA memo ends with this: ‘EA will not retaliate against employees for exercising legal rights, including by participating in the proposed class action.’ ” Hell, why would they retaliate? They’ve got some live ones on the hook.