It's Almost the Season for WOTC layoff!

[Dedekind]

The general point I think most of us agree on is that the historical layoffs were a crappy way to treat what seemed to be talented employees. As a community, we want to reiterate our views on the matter in close proximity to the anniversary of the last time it happened. And perhaps recall how successful many of these former employees went on to be in their own right.

Speculation by outsiders, in this case, is in poor taste.

 

[Remathilis]

WotC isn't having layoffs this year. They're trying something new...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgPEhrB7ebc"]YouTube - Magic: The Gathering: Bob from Accounting[/ame]

 

[Umbran]

I'm not saying we shouldn't feel bad for these people, layoffs still suck. No one deserves to be layed off. But, they chose to work there.

The people who have been looking for permanent work for 12 months and more in the current economy would beg to differ with you.

That argument works well in good times, when a person can pretty much pick where they work. But the US unemployment rate is still upwards of 9%. Sometimes, you take the job you can get, and don't have the luxury of being picky about security.

I'm not sure if this thread is more disgusting or if it's more of a disgrace. Either way, close it.

Every single post saying that this thread should be closed is bumping the thread, probably increasing its visibility and longevity.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

The people who have been looking for permanent work for 12 months and more in the current economy would beg to differ with you.

That argument works well in good times, when a person can pretty much pick where they work. But the US unemployment rate is still upwards of 9%. Sometimes, you take the job you can get, and don't have the luxury of being picky about security.

Tell me about it. Since I graduated 3 years ago, I've been unemployed for 2/3 of that time, and the only jobs I've had have been unskilled temp jobs for low pay and no benefits with absolutely no relevance to my degree. I've totally done the desperation job thing.

Perhaps I was wrong, but I was under the assumption that working for the biggest games company was a sort of cream of the crop job. That if you could get a job doing anything related to game design with WotC, then you could probably land a job at other places, too. That such a job with WotC would not be a "desperation job." If my assumption was wrong, and scores of WotC employees would jump ship in a hot second if the equivalent job opened up at a "better" company, then I apologize.

 

[Campbell]

Tell me about it. Since I graduated 3 years ago, I've been unemployed for 2/3 of that time, and the only jobs I've had have been unskilled temp jobs for low pay and no benefits with absolutely no relevance to my degree. I've totally done the desperation job thing.

Perhaps I was wrong, but I was under the assumption that working for the biggest games company was a sort of cream of the crop job. That if you could get a job doing anything related to game design with WotC, then you could probably land a job at other places, too. That such a job with WotC would not be a "desperation job." If my assumption was wrong, and scores of WotC employees would jump ship in a hot second if the equivalent job opened up at a "better" company, then I apologize.

Here's the thing - there's really no such thing as a stable full time job in hobby game design. WotC is one of the few producers of role playing games that even offers full time jobs with benefits. Outside of WotC, Paizo, and possibly White Wolf and Fantasy Flight game companies operate off skeleton crews with maybe up to 5 full time employees at most.

 

[Azgulor]

Here's the thing - there's really no such thing as a stable full time job in hobby game design. WotC is one of the few producers of role playing games that even offers full time jobs with benefits. Outside of WotC, Paizo, and possibly White Wolf and Fantasy Flight game companies operate off skeleton crews with maybe up to 5 full time employees at most.

Here's another thing. Business plans are an intentional strategy that a company attempts to execute.

While everything you said is correct, it's also pretty well established that this is a recurring event within WotC and by all appearances part of their business plan.

If WotC, as part of the interview process, lays the groundwork and says "most jobs have a duration of X years" you can't say the employees weren't warned. However, unless you're dealing with contract work with a defined term, I've certainly never heard of such a thing occurring.

It may be a fiscally sound strategy by WotC to embark upon these layoffs at regular intervals. It may also be a very shortsighted strategy, i.e. the path of least resistance. I can only speculate.

I have, however, worked in a corporate culture that evolved into a bi-annual layoff cycle. It was incredibly demoralizing, even for those of us who were having success at the company. It became its own form of survivor's guilt and it sucked. However, I'm sure it paled in comparison to those who lost their jobs. Ultimately, I was fortunate enough to find a better job & leave on my terms rather than the company's.

So speculation aside, it goes without saying that for those getting laid off -- it sucks. It may ultimately work out for the better for those people in the long run & it is my sincere hope that it does.

In any event, I hope those who pull this particular trigger within WotC pull their heads out of the backsides and break the trend this year. In the event that they do not, those affected have my sincerest sympathies & well wishes for better & brighter future endeavors.

 

[Campbell]

Here's another thing. Business plans are an intentional strategy that a company attempts to execute.

While everything you said is correct, it's also pretty well established that this is a recurring event within WotC and by all appearances part of their business plan.

If WotC, as part of the interview process, lays the groundwork and says "most jobs have a duration of X years" you can't say the employees weren't warned. However, unless you're dealing with contract work with a defined term, I've certainly never heard of such a thing occurring.

It may be a fiscally sound strategy by WotC to embark upon these layoffs at regular intervals. It may also be a very shortsighted strategy, i.e. the path of least resistance. I can only speculate.

I have, however, worked in a corporate culture that evolved into a bi-annual layoff cycle. It was incredibly demoralizing, even for those of us who were having success at the company. It became its own form of survivor's guilt and it sucked. However, I'm sure it paled in comparison to those who lost their jobs. Ultimately, I was fortunate enough to find a better job & leave on my terms rather than the company's.

So speculation aside, it goes without saying that for those getting laid off -- it sucks. It may ultimately work out for the better for those people in the long run & it is my sincere hope that it does.

In any event, I hope those who pull this particular trigger within WotC pull their heads out of the backsides and break the trend this year. In the event that they do not, those affected have my sincerest sympathies & well wishes for better & brighter future endeavors.

I agree with pretty much everything you just said. I was responding to the sentiment that WotC employees should have found a more stable job in the first place.

 

[Azgulor]

I agree with pretty much everything you just said. I was responding to the sentiment that WotC employees should have found a more stable job in the first place.

Can't really argue with that.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Me neither, Campbell made a good argument.

 

[Banshee16]

It lets WotC know that the fans are aware of (and gives us an opportunity to decry) their HR policy of annual layoffs in general, especially at Christmas.

I don't think WotC cares what the fans think of the way the business is run, as long as they continue to purchase product. At the end of the day, they're trying to run a business, and, as long as bad press doesn't interfere with their ability to sell product (in their eyes), it probably won't matter. Plus, the small percentage of fans who are aware of layoffs, and the small percentage of *those* fans who then post about the layoffs is probably not significant enough to affect the bottom line.

Banshee