Wizards of the Coast LAYOFFS

[Desdichado]

Piratecat:
Joshua, I'd probably argue that what you suggest is easier for short-term projects. WotC hired to meet expected ongoing business need; now that it unfortunately looks like the need isn't there in the next year, they're scaling back. A layoff like this probably will save them $5-7 million in yearly salaries and benefits alone.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for my friends there. Good business decision or not, it still stinks for those laid off.

DocMoriarrty:
Thats dumb, lets hire a couple hundred people as temps for a year or two and they won't get any benefits or paid vacations. But in the end it will be ok because when we get rid of them we won't be technically laying them off.

If a "job" cannot be done in 6 months or less then it is wrong to hire a temp to do it with no benefits. 6 months and longer really should be the work of a full time employee.

It's not dumb, or inappropriate. In my industry, lead time on a new product is close to five years. Agency folks, as we call them, number in the thousands at our company, and most of them are on temporary projects. Some of them have been working on projects with us for 15 years or more (total time across many projects, usually.) They do get insurance, paid vacation and the like through their agency. Sure, we pay for it just the same, but the cost is worth it in terms of flexibility: when you don't need them any more, you don't have to either retain them or lay them off, and the agencies can then send them to work on another of our programs, or a program of our competitors. It's a good system, and I would think it would work for a lot of the developers, programmers, writers, etc. at WoTC. Professional services agencies are a big deal and have their fingers in tons of industries. In mine, they're primarily administrative folks or engineers.

 

[Wolfspider]

I asked Anthony Valterra for a comment on this. He responded that he was unable to do any more than pass my email to PR.

Wow. I don't know what to say. I feel rather...sad.

 

[Eosin the Red]

quote:
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I asked Anthony Valterra for a comment on this. He responded that he was unable to do any more than pass my email to PR.
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Wow. I don't know what to say. I feel rather...sad.

This combined with the other thread on the conversions makes me feel the same way.

It seems there has been a dramatic shift over the last year or two away from a user friendly (or employee friendly) policy. While not hostile, they are far from the interactive and informative company of yesterday.

I wonder how many of the WotC "posters" are going? Specifically thinking of those who post here, like Erik.

 

[Ranger REG]

Re: One thing no one has mentioned so far...

...is the fact that REAL people are losing their jobs here. Let's remember that and keep them in our prayers. I'm sure that many of the employees being laid off have mortgages to pay, wives and kids to feed - just like you and me. How would you feel if you lost your job today?

Let's keep that in mind as this discussion goes forward.

That depends. Are they laying me off (hypothetically since I don't work at WotC) and not give me a generous severance package? If so, I'd be peeved.

Still, it is a bummer to leave a company that you work for so long and the departure is not on your term (like Dancey, Monte Cook, and Jim Butler has done).

Now I don't give a damn about the TCG department, I just want to know if anyone from the RPG and Magazine divisions have been cut.

BTW, no offense to former WotC employees but if any person who should be axed, it's those people responsible for the layout, proofreading and editing. The people who makes more money to let slip a lot of errata into the final product. It's one thing to say that errata will always pop in the final product, it's another to accept this when you are responsible for editing and proofreading materials, including the layout.

I'm telling on behalf of all WotC's customers: we hate errata. If you for some reasons you got an English or Writing degree from an ivy league college, you certainly don't show any of it.

And don't give me crap about rushing to meet the deadline. I do not like a rushed job, resulted in a lot of errata.

I would think that after four class guidebooks, that you would get Masters of the Wild right. Boy, was I wrong.

 

[Numion]

Re: Re: One thing no one has mentioned so far...

Still, it is a bummer to leave a company that you work for so long and the departure is not on your term (like Dancey, Monte Cook, and Jim Butler has done).

Monte did say in one interview that he left on his own terms. To do things he wanted to do.

Anyways, my take on this whole thing is that just give me Epic-Level HB on then do what you will with the company. For me this game is more important than the jobs of couple hundred people I don't even know. And deep inside it's probably for you too.

(Which one would you choose:

A: Quit playing D&D forever

B: 100 random people around the world are laid off.

Just to rebutt the one person who said other peoples' jobs are more important than a game)

 

[PatrickLawinger]

I certainly realize it's just a game, but layoffs are rampant everywhere, not just WotC. My own circle of friends and family, myself included, have been affected by the lousy economy. This doesn't mean I'm unsympathetic - just the opposite. But since so many everywhere are getting the boot, it's not unusual. So, since this is a D&D discussion board, and we're discussing the company that makes D&D, it makes sense to assess whether the game itself will be affected.

The game itself really should not be adversely affected. One way or another DnD will survive. Based on what I have heard (not I can't mention the source) there are NO changes to the release schedule in the catalog (for DnD and d20-related products) or to items scheduled beyond that.

As for the evil corporation etc. rants going on here.

Hasbro SAVED DnD. Do you really think the 3e books coming out now would be in anyone's schedule if WotC hadn't been taken over by SOMEONE? WotC hemorraged money at a rate several quarters ago that would have definitely put it out of business. I am sorry, but if your company loses $90 million in a single quarter you absolutely, positively HAVE to make adjustments to survive. If you don't, you won't be laying off people, you will be closing your doors forever and your creditors will be stripping away all of your properties and selling them to the highest bidder.

I am sorry, hate to say it, but WotC has made terrible management decisions. Hasbro does not micro-manage WotC, they set certain minimal goals the company is expected to make. All decisions on how to make those goals are entirely up to WotC management. That is why it is called a "subsidiary."

You can bash management all you want. Several facts remain. If a company loses money eventually it must close its doors forever. No good manager wants to have layoffs. They hurt morale, they hurt people, and they hurt public opinion (as clearly evidenced here). Hasbro does not micro-manage WotC, all management decisions for things like this are made by WotC. If you want to bash management, at least bash the right managers, not the company that has soaked up millions of dollars of losses to keep your favorite company afloat.

Okay, got off-track on a rant, constant claims of "Hasbro is killing DnD" get me like that. Sorry. When there is an economic slow-down a lot of "extra" expenses are cut back. About the only "games" that have been selling well during the slow down are computer/console games. A number of game companies have been hurting lately. Don't be surprised if you see more layoffs in other subsidiaries of Hasbro, Mattel or other game companies. People have been staying home and watching movies and playing videogames rather than getting together in groups and playing games.

 

[KDLadage]

Re: Re: Re: One thing no one has mentioned so far...

Anyways, my take on this whole thing is that just give me Epic-Level HB on then do what you will with the company. For me this game is more important than the jobs of couple hundred people I don't even know. And deep inside it's probably for you too.

That indicates to me that you are a sad, sad little man. No offense, but if that is your opinion, then I think you and I would not get along very well.

(Which one would you choose:

A: Quit playing D&D forever

B: 100 random people around the world are laid off.

Just to rebutt the one person who said other peoples' jobs are more important than a game)

A few things:

1. I would select quit playing. After all, I can still play GURPS.
2. How are these two things even remotely related? Wouldn;t my continued support of D&D help to ensure that the 100 people were not laid off of their jobs?
3. Why do you feel that a game is more important than these people? Just because you did not know them? Rather self centered, don't you think?

 

[hong]

Re: Re: Re: One thing no one has mentioned so far...

Monte did say in one interview that he left on his own terms. To do things he wanted to do.

Anyways, my take on this whole thing is that just give me Epic-Level HB on then do what you will with the company. For me this game is more important than the jobs of couple hundred people I don't even know. And deep inside it's probably for you too.

(Which one would you choose:

A: Quit playing D&D forever

B: 100 random people around the world are laid off.

Just to rebutt the one person who said other peoples' jobs are more important than a game)

Quit playing. I can find other stuff to occupy my copious free time with. Like writing up this damn thesis, for one.

 

[Wolfspider]

People have been staying home and watching movies and playing videogames rather than getting together in groups and playing games.

Proof?

 

[Storm Raven]

i meant D&D wont be affected in a bad way.

And newsflash - temps DO get paid vacations and benefits after 6 months. from the temp agency. I should know.

From some temp agencies. Some temp agencies don't offer these sorts of fringe benefits no matter how long your tenure.