WotC New WotC Statement on Orion Black

[The Glen]

This is about a stock boilerplate a response I have ever read. The truth is going to be hiding behind several layers of NDAs.

 

[Gradine]

I'll note that even if Orion's story accurately painted WotC as running "business as usual" or something approximating typical corporate culture, it's still bad and not the way that successful companies treat and develop talent. Especially not if they're actively trying to appeal to an ever younger and more diverse audience.

That something is common does not make it right, good, or even acceptable.

 

[Oofta]

Take a moment to think about this situation. If you take out the non-binary and racial aspects of the story, it basically sounds like a rant from a disgruntled employee.

Now, I've been a disgruntled employee*, but I never publicly trashed a former employer like this to anyone but my wife. Are contractors given less leeway and authority? Probably. Did he have to ask for assignments? Well, maybe there was a problem with their work, maybe it's just how the group works and Orion didn't understand the dynamic.

They're not helping their case, and kind of coming off as throwing a temper tantrum. Which ... cool if you do that with friends in private. Have a few beverages of you choice, mope a bit, get it out. But this? Doesn't leave a positive impression to me.

* The manager praised me up and down as one of the most productive developers he had ever worked with.. Then I was fired because I didn't do lunch or socialize with the group.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Take a moment to think about this situation. If you take out the non-binary and racial aspects of the story, it basically sounds like a rant from a disgruntled employee.

Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

I think they could have handled it better, and had I been able to advise Orion Black before they sent out a response to WoTC's apology, I would have told them to take a deep breath, wait a day, and then send something like this:

"I am so glad that Wizards acknowledged the issues that I raised, and apologized for them. I hope that Wizards is committed to following through on the apology and look forward to them contacting me to discuss these issues, so that D&D continues to change and be more inclusive."

That, or a kick-ass animated gif from Legion.

 

[schneeland]

On a related note, although I'm in IT which is completely different environment, contractors are outsiders. I've been on both sides of the desk so to speak, and it's rare that a contractor has as much pull as a full time employee.

Same experience for me. In fact, I recognize about 80% of the things Orion posted about from my time as a contractor (same company as FTE - completely different experience).

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Between the first thread about this and this one, no matter how right or wrong WotC is in all this, Orion's way of handling this would make for a very toxic hire for any other company. But I also think whistleblowing is necessary, just not at all the way this one was handled.

 

[Marandahir]

Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

THIS. It's impossible to take the story out of the non-binary and racial bias context of the company, the industry, and the hobby as a whole.

If there's even the appearance of impropriety, of retaliation, of discriminative bias, then it speaks very, very poorly on WotC's equality, diversity, and fair labor practices. It doesn't matter whether or not Orion would have been let go if they were a white cis-male professional trying to break into the industry; the fact that we can't answer the above question from an outsider perspective exposes the hoops and glass ceilings and gatekeeping involved.

 

[R_J_K75]

I've worked many contract jobs over the last 20 years as a Mechanical Designer. Some were better than others. Ive been treated very we'll at some and at others I was treated like complete naughty word. In both cases I did my job. Bottom line it is a contract job and in most cases its never going to become a permanent job nor was ever meant to be. After the project was done you look for more work. I fail to see where WotC did anything wrong and I read his initial complaint and IIRC HE QUIT. Sure there are 3 sides to this story though. If there was any proof on his part that he truly was discriminated against there'd be a lawsuit pending already. Sounds like a young person entering the workforce that didnt meet his expectations. In most businesses you run into the same people quite often and your name gets around. Unfortunately I think he's going to find it hard to find work in the RPG industry after this.

 

[dave2008]

OOC, any products in particular Orion worked on? Might be interested in taking a look.

The only one I know of is Theros

 

[jerryrice4949]

I'll note that even if Orion's story accurately painted WotC as running "business as usual" or something approximating typical corporate culture, it's still bad and not the way that successful companies treat and develop talent. Especially not if they're actively trying to appeal to an ever younger and more diverse audience.

That something is common does not make it right, good, or even acceptable.

Sure. This is a good point.

But Orion seems to get the benefit of the doubt and not WoTC. Perhaps WoTC has a legitimate defense but has enough class and professionalism not to trash a contractor who did not work out.