Mari Kolkowsky (D&D Art Director) got laid off yesterday

[Kinak]

I kind of expected some WotC layoffs for Christmas, but starting so early is a little disturbing. Best wishes to Mari and anyone else who finds themselves on the wrong side of a balance sheet.

Wotc is a strange bird... Here's the deal. They are not making money off of D&D anymore. Mari is a fantastic art director. She was blindsided by this. BTW, you do know that Jon Schindehette gave notice a couple of weeks ago. A lot of the creative team isn't happy there and I wouldn't be surprised to see D&D licensed out within the next 6 months.

I'd be surprised to see Hasbro license something out, but I agree with your general assessment of the situation. WotC is definitely an... interesting place to work.

If you know Mari, please pass along our sympathy and best wishes on her future projects.

How similar is too similar for that law? Couldn't someone hire a person for a different job description that still had some of the same tasks? And then have the person focus on those tasks most needed for?

Depends how much the ex-employee is willing to push things and, if it comes to that, who has the better lawyers.

I can't speak for other countries, but US law often has more to do with who's willing to push the issue than what's actually written down.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Gundark]

There are ways to get around that. They could create a different position which does the same job, but has a different label, and then hire someone for it.

That happened to me when I got laid off. it's dirty, but its what corporations do

 

[Geek Art Director]

There are a lot of claims in there that don't line up with the understanding of the situation a lot of us have - D&D not making any money, or the creative team being discontented, or talk of D&D being licensed - and it's a bit much to ask us to take any of that on faith, especially from someone with no posting history here. Do you have any evidence to share with us?

Dannager, You are correct. I shouldn't spread what I've heard through the grapevine. Very few conversations like that come with evidence. It's usually something that comes up between current and former employees at pubs in Renton. My bad. Still, it's only hearsay. I'm not there anymore and if I were and knew of anything, I'd be in trouble for talking about it.

Thanks.

 

[Wicht]

Dannager, You are correct. I shouldn't spread what I've heard through the grapevine. Very few conversations like that come with evidence. It's usually something that comes up between current and former employees at pubs in Renton. My bad. Still, it's only hearsay. I'm not there anymore and if I were and knew of anything, I'd be in trouble for talking about it.

Thanks.

And you are?

 

[Geek Art Director]

I kind of expected some WotC layoffs for Christmas, but starting so early is a little disturbing. Best wishes to Mari and anyone else who finds themselves on the wrong side of a balance sheet.

I'd be surprised to see Hasbro license something out, but I agree with your general assessment of the situation. WotC is definitely an... interesting place to work.

If you know Mari, please pass along our sympathy and best wishes on her future projects.

Depends how much the ex-employee is willing to push things and, if it comes to that, who has the better lawyers.

I can't speak for other countries, but US law often has more to do with who's willing to push the issue than what's actually written down.

Cheers!
Kinak

Yeah we use to say, it's that time of year again, who's next. Around bonus/review time and before the holiday party. You can get an excellent review and still be laid off.

Mari is a fantastic art director and she worked hard to make D&D as best as she was allowed because she loves the brand. In the end, it's business... Not personal. Even when it feels personal.

I'll pass on your regards and point her to this post.

 

[Umbran]

... I wouldn't be surprised to see D&D licensed out within the next 6 months.

After putting how much time and effort into creating a new edition, they're going to license it out before even publishing it? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense, to me.

 

[Nagol]

Well what they could do is just give them contracts on a year to year basis. At the end of each year, they can evaluate the situation and decide if they want to keep that employee or end their contract. You can work for a company under contract or you could work for them as a permanent employee. Really the only difference is you could be let go after your contract expires.

The tax agencies take a dim view of this arrangement since independent contractors suffer different tax treatment. A lot of companies have policies limiting the duration of contract work to stay on the good side of the regulators. Around here, a 2-year maximum is typical for a contractor filling for a particular role.

Additionally, contractors typically cost more than the equivalent full time employee in salary/benefits.

 

[Herschel]

Yes, and no. You don't pay severence packages to contractors, for example.

 

[Nagol]

True and in the U.S. health benefits (if offered) add up for full time as well. Those extras as well as the more precarious position vis-à-vis continued income are the reasons for the premium.

 

[Campbell]

Being laid off sucks, but one element that almost never comes up when discussing at will employment is that it cuts both ways. If I'm working at will I can give my customary two weeks notice at any time and move onto a better opportunity. It's true that no one can be compelled to work, but penalties for breaching an employment contract hurt.

BTW Mari thank you for all the work you've done. I hope you're able to move onto bigger and better things.