A union would have been able to negotiate severance packages as part of a collective bargaining agreement, but in no way would they be able to stop the terminations.
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Big Layoffs at Game Informer (Imran Khan, Suriel Vazquez, Kyle Hilliard, Javy Gwaltney, Jeff Marchiafava, Elise Favis confirmed so far)
- Thread starter Fanto
- Start date
A union would have been able to negotiate severance packages as part of a collective bargaining agreement, but in no way would they be able to stop the terminations.
Because there would be collectively bargained standards for how the layoffs would take place. Speaking as someone who's been involved with layoffs without being in a union, I would have LOVED to know that things like amount of severance, assistance with job placement, extended health insurance and amount of warning before layoffs were already in guaranteed in writing. Frequently in these situations all you get is a final check and an escort off the property.
A company who already has commitments to their union has to think in much longer terms and much more cautiously than one with no commitments. In no way does it stop layoffs, but it can make it a lot easier and less scary for the members.
Be Reeves Bizarre Detective character was the highlight of that SR
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Yeah, this is the main thing. Had they been unionized, this wouldn't have blindsided the entire staff, they would have known, and there would have been fair agreements in place. It's about treating your employees like people, rather than just causing them to go into panic mode one day and having to say goodbye to longtime colleagues and friends out of no where.
No they are just as bad off as we think and that's why many of us were worried about GI's future. GameStop cannot sustain itself much longer and they need to cut costs to stop the bleeding as much as they can
i'm sure there's plenty of people like me who got into GB because of Dan and Jason moving.
There were, and still are, a lot of good people at GI. Their work just goes unappreciated here vocally at least.
Okay, so yeah that's a big reason to want them and it makes sense. Obviously it's terrible that they would still get laid off like they were but yeah any type of notice to let them at least prepare would be HUGE in helping them move forward. Thanks.
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Yep, I first heard about GB when Dan and Jason went there.
Sad, but it was very easy to see this coming. Unfortunately I don't think this is the end of it yet for Game Informer or GameStop.
It was the opposite direction for me. I got into GI because of Dan and Jason moving. Them talking about some of the stuff they had done got me interested in GI. Game Informer quickly became one of my favorite sites.
Yup, enjoyed both but started watching more GB when they joined.
I cannot imagine that anything that happened today was the result of any financial performance, which was to my knowledge quite good, of Game Informer itself.
Game Informer existed as a marketing wing of GameStop. Their mags to my knowledge were only available to GameStop premium members (or whatever they call it). Their fate and the fate of GameStop seem inseparably tied. I don't think there's a scenario where GameStop is struggling but GI is doing fine.
Another thing that can happen too is buyouts. Before the company resorts to layoffs, they would offer buyouts and folks could leave of their own volition. This isn't a given, but it's definitely a thing and could provide financial stability and allow some folks to leave of their own accord.
I always found it bizarre they wouldn't sell the magazine to paying customers who aren't premium members, even though it's usually just sitting there on the counter. I wanted that BotW cover damnit!
Ziff Davis. (joke)
IGN. Gamespot. (not a joke). Keep the digital assets, kill the mag.
100% agree with this. It wouldn't be the same, I'm sure, without Gamestop's corporate backing, but a far sight better to go all digital and keep the staff.
This one hurts. Despite Game Informer being under the GameStop corporate umbrella, GI has always felt like the least corporate big games media outlet out there.
The people there are all great, and seem to really enjoy their work, and each other. There was a genuine family dynamic amongst the group. It's reflected in the content they put out.
I mean my god, the replays, the GI show, fucking Overblood...
I'm sorry this is happening to you guys.
The people there are all great, and seem to really enjoy their work, and each other. There was a genuine family dynamic amongst the group. It's reflected in the content they put out.
I mean my god, the replays, the GI show, fucking Overblood...
I'm sorry this is happening to you guys.
Game Informer does the best job amongst the major media outlets to cover games. Least click-bait and most professional of all of them. Great game coverage with no bias. It's disappointing and I hope they all find jobs soon.
Gutted. Saw Imran's first and thought he was the only one since he didn't work on site in Minneapolis but fuck was I wrong.
Matt Bertz being laid off is the most insane. I've been reading his GI work since middle school/junior high in the mid 2000's.
Matt Bertz being laid off is the most insane. I've been reading his GI work since middle school/junior high in the mid 2000's.
that sucks, game informer is one of my favorite gaming media outlets, best wishes to all affected by these news
I'll also add to this "y'all are fools for sleeping on GI" camp. I tried to preach several times on this forum. Hell I think I even did within the last week.
Did you really think it was bizarre? Sounds like you already know why they wouldn't sell it separately.
I did, because I was more than willing to pay for the magazine but completely unwilling to pay for a membership. So they lost out on money in my case, and I assume lots of other cases.
Clearly they were more worried about the potential loss of membership revenue than whatever revenue selling the magazines separately would have generated.
It used to be a separate scrip a long time ago. Then they made it power up rewards exclusive.
And anecdotal, but didn't they say they were changing how the PUR program worked in regards to discounts and whatnot? Because I can't imagine many people wanted the magazine more than the 10-20% off used items. I knew a few people who cancelled PUR straight up when they announced that.
So many talented people blindsided by a huge layoff D:
I hope all of them manage to find another job soon.
I hope all of them manage to find another job soon.
This is terrible news, and awful to hear. Cover story announcements won't have the same energy behind them now, we liked the follow-up articles too. And nothing about this can be considered "funny, to a point", even though I did a double take reading this news, too. Hope better days are ahead for all the crew let go and still there.
I mean GameStop has all the behavior stats for members. They might well have seen a large number of members who continued to retain their subscription without using the discount, and assume those stuck around for GI. Otherwise why retain GI at all? Just cut all those salaries and production costs and continue the membership discounts.
Given how bad (and poorly run) things are at GameStop in general, it wouldn't surprise me if the execs decided GI could still put out enough content to keep members engaged with half the staff.
Not exactly; that makes it sound like it's GameStop who is hurting and they started gutting Game Informer as jetsam.
It's also WAY more difficult to start your own company and gain massive traction like GI has over the years than to buy an asset.
Just can't see it. Gametrailers had more of a digital following yet nobody picked that up.
But from the end of Gametrailers came Easy Allies, so let's hope they found something new should all of GI be closed down.
It might not have blindsided them. This would be something the union would have to specifically negotiate for and, in my experience, they would rather not waste their bargaining power on notification when they can push for severance. I don't think unions in the US are the blanket fix everyone here thinks they are. The bigger issue is the complete lack of employee protections and standards. Unions are good but there should be a minimum set that employers have to adhere to regardless of whether or not an employee is unionized.
I haven't seen anyone here arguing that unions are a blanket fix. Since the ability of employees to unionize is currently federally protected, it's simply far more likely that wider unionization will (and should) occur than significant legislation protecting employees on a federal level will pass in the near future. State and local legislation is more likely in some areas, but still very difficult. Gerrymandering and courts packed with biased judges are a huge hurdle.
Very sad news. A shame that the magazine/site is so tied to Gamestop which continues to hemorrhage.
Good luck to those affected and also to the team who remain.
Good luck to those affected and also to the team who remain.
This is awful. The Game Informer podcast has been a staple for years, and it won't be the same now that half of the panel is gone.
I would say I wish they'd do an Easy Allies style rebirth, but I'm not sure how feasible that is for them. And they'd need more of the guys who weren't fired to join their cause for it to really work.
I would say I wish they'd do an Easy Allies style rebirth, but I'm not sure how feasible that is for them. And they'd need more of the guys who weren't fired to join their cause for it to really work.