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They got away with this??

ThePrimeTime・94 minutes read

An individual recounts their negative experiences working at Blizzard Entertainment, highlighting financial struggles, mistreatment, and lack of career progression, ultimately leading to their decision to leave and join Amazon Game Studios for better opportunities. The speaker stresses the importance of transparency, fair treatment, and effective communication in the workplace to avoid dissatisfaction and legal issues, showcasing the challenges faced in toxic work environments and the impact of leaving for a more supportive and fulfilling career path.

Insights

  • Blizzard Entertainment offered significantly lower starting wages compared to other industries in Southern California, impacting employees' financial stability and living conditions.
  • The toxic environment at Blizzard, characterized by unreasonable expectations, low morale, and belittlement of QA professionals, underscored the importance of respectful treatment and value for QA staff.
  • The promotion process at a tech company like Amazon Game Studios involves detailed negotiations, transparency, and clear communication to avoid misunderstandings and potential legal issues.

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Recent questions

  • How did the individual's experience at Blizzard impact their career?

    The individual's time at Blizzard showcased the challenges faced in the QA department, including low wages, unreasonable expectations, and a toxic work environment. Despite these difficulties, the individual eventually transitioned to leading an application security team, emphasizing the importance of treating QA professionals with respect. This experience influenced the individual's approach to leadership in their own indie studio, focusing on creating a supportive and respectful work environment. The toxic culture at Blizzard highlighted the need for better treatment of QA professionals and the impact of good management on employee well-being and performance.

  • What led to the individual's decision to leave Blizzard?

    The individual decided to leave Blizzard due to mistreatment by management, mental health concerns, and a lack of advancement opportunities despite significant efforts and hours put into their role. The toxic work environment, including class-based distinctions and lack of respect for QA professionals, influenced the individual's decision to seek a more supportive and fulfilling work environment. The individual's experience at Blizzard highlighted the importance of good management and the impact it can have on employee morale and performance.

  • How did the individual navigate a promotion offer at Blizzard?

    When offered a promotion to lead VFX artists for the Cosmetics team at Blizzard, the individual ensured clarity on the role's details, including pay increase and title changes, with all parties involved. Discussions involved key personnel like lead VFX art directors, associate art directors, production directors, and HR. Despite the excitement surrounding the promotion, the individual decided not to accept it due to concerns about lack of transparency and potential downgrades in pay. This cautionary tale emphasized the importance of clarity and communication in career advancements.

  • What legal issues did the individual face at Blizzard?

    The individual faced legal issues at Blizzard after HR activated a non-compete clause due to the knowledge gained in their current role. Despite months of unfulfilled promises of promotion and pay increase, HR denied the promotion and stated it was only a lateral move. This situation led to the individual resigning from Blizzard, highlighting the importance of understanding legal options and seeking legal counsel in such circumstances. The experience underscored the need for transparency and fairness in employment practices.

  • How did the individual's experience at Blizzard influence their leadership style?

    The individual's experience at Blizzard, including mistreatment by management and a toxic work environment, influenced their leadership style in their own indie studio. The focus shifted towards creating a supportive and respectful work environment, emphasizing the importance of treating QA professionals with respect and value. The challenges faced at Blizzard highlighted the impact of good management on employee morale and performance, shaping the individual's approach to leadership and organizational culture in their own studio.

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Summary

00:00

Challenges and Growth at Blizzard Entertainment

  • The individual shared a story about their experiences working at Blizzard Entertainment from 2009 to 2016, where they worked in QA and faced challenges.
  • Starting wage at Blizzard was $10.50 an hour, significantly lower than a grocery bagger's starting wage at $12 an hour in Southern California.
  • The individual lived in a room due to financial constraints and eventually moved to a halfway house setup by a lady for young people struggling with living costs.
  • During a critical task at Blizzard, employees were instructed to leave the room at a specific point, leading to the firing of the last two individuals who complied.
  • Moving from night crew to day crew resulted in a pay decrease of 50 cents an hour, equating to a loss of $1,000 annually.
  • The individual highlighted the unreasonable expectations and overtime during the development of Starcraft 2, leading to low morale and personal sacrifices.
  • The director of the department belittled the QA team, stating they were replaceable and not as valuable as developers, causing a significant negative impact on morale.
  • The individual eventually transitioned to leading an application security team at Blizzard, emphasizing the importance of treating QA professionals with respect and value.
  • The individual shared an example of their technical skills saving significant tester time on Diablo I console, showcasing the value of QA expertise beyond traditional testing.
  • The toxic environment at Blizzard, including class-based badge distinctions and lack of respect for QA professionals, influenced the individual's approach to leadership in their own indie studio.

11:16

Challenges and Opportunities in Game Development Industry

  • Developers find it challenging to build firmware and create Auto clicks, saving time.
  • Encouraging QA to delve into automation and providing space for it is crucial.
  • Amazon Game Studios offers a structured QA career path, unlike Blizzard.
  • At Blizzard, QA testers face limited career progression options.
  • Amazon Game Studios allows QA testers to remain in their roles, offering substantial salaries.
  • The acquisition of Blizzard by Microsoft led to mass layoffs, impacting long-term talent.
  • Passion drives successful game development, as seen in Hearthstone and Elden Ring.
  • Good management significantly influences employee performance and mental well-being.
  • Amazon Game Studios provided a supportive work environment for former Blizzard employees.
  • Leaving Blizzard due to management mistreatment and mental health concerns is a common experience.

23:06

Navigating Career Promotions and Transitions in Tech

  • In July 2023, the narrator was offered a promotion to lead VFX artists for the Cosmetics team after only six months at the company.
  • Before accepting the promotion, the narrator ensured clarity on the role's details, including pay increase and title changes, with all parties involved.
  • The promotion discussions involved various key personnel like lead VFX art directors, associate art directors, production directors, and HR.
  • The narrator started the new role immediately, with written details expected by the week's end.
  • A cautionary tale was shared about a similar situation where crucial details were withheld until after starting the new position, leading to potential legal issues.
  • The narrator decided not to accept the promotion due to concerns about lack of transparency and potential downgrades in pay.
  • Utilizing saved paid time off at a higher rate, the narrator transitioned to a new job at Amazon, leveraging contacts for information.
  • The decision to leave Blizzard for Netflix was made after realizing the lack of advancement despite significant efforts and hours put into the previous role.
  • The importance of always having a resume and cover letter ready in the tech industry was emphasized, along with the value of responding to personal job inquiries.
  • Implementing effective communication channels like "Email Mike" at Blizzard and an open Q&A at Netflix was highlighted as crucial for addressing internal issues and concerns.

34:05

Managing IP Address Protection in Gaming Industry

  • Peer-to-peer model in gaming involves obfuscating IP addresses through a brokering server to prevent leaks.
  • Starcraft 2 game disruptions occur due to IP address protection mechanisms.
  • Conversations with VFX art directors, production directors, and HR led to a new role encompassing existing responsibilities and managing a team of three.
  • Line manager role in gaming industry akin to a supervisor overseeing a small team.
  • Responsibilities include managing the entire VFX pipeline in China, involving night shifts and additional lead tasks.
  • Promotion to lead announced officially to the team, generating excitement and social media posts.
  • Issue arises with a team member refusing to return to the office, leading to discussions on potential termination.
  • Blizzard's internal culture highlighted with instances of hierarchy, titles, and group dynamics reminiscent of high school cliques.
  • Challenges in large organizations like Blizzard include communication breakdowns, middle management buffers, and blind spots for upper management.
  • Suggestions for addressing organizational issues include external audits, investigations, and security measures akin to Amazon's stringent protocols.

46:07

Streamer faces underpayment and broken promises at Blizzard.

  • Streamer discusses running ads on their stream and aligning cycles with a friend.
  • Plans to attend a streamer event on Friday, the 16th, and hang out with Sushi Dragon.
  • Recalls a past job incident involving a switchblade and a dangerous situation.
  • Expresses frustration over lack of pay increase and title change at current job.
  • Learns he is earning less than 50% of other VFX artists at Blizzard due to location-based pay.
  • Shares experience of being underpaid at Blizzard despite high skill level.
  • Narrates a situation where HR denies promised promotion and pay increase.
  • Sends a formal complaint to HR after months of unfulfilled promises.
  • Receives a response from HR stating there was no promotion, only a lateral move.
  • Resigns after HR activates a non-compete clause due to gained knowledge in current role.

58:17

Legal advice crucial for unpaid work situations.

  • Working anywhere for 3 months without pay is not legal, but it happened in the UK.
  • Hiring a lawyer is advised in such situations to understand legal options.
  • Legal advice is crucial, and initial consultations with lawyers can be affordable or free.
  • UK laws protect workers, and lawyers may take cases on a percentage basis.
  • Some lawyers may even work pro bono in certain cases.
  • A person facing unpaid leave should seek legal counsel to understand their rights.
  • Blizzard's mass firings, like the Blizzard 600, were handled poorly and impacted game development.
  • Employees were fired abruptly without consideration for the impact on projects.
  • A mentorship program helped someone avoid debt and was deeply appreciated.
  • Leaving a toxic work environment can lead to a happier outcome and the ability to help others in similar situations.

01:10:19

"HR, Risks, and Workplace Culture Evolution"

  • HR is primarily focused on protecting the company from legal issues that may arise from employee actions.
  • HR also plays a role in resolving conflicts between employees for the benefit of the team.
  • Leaving a job may be due to dissatisfaction with the job itself rather than the work involved.
  • The distinction between job and work is crucial, as the former includes managerial tasks and structures that may not align with the actual work.
  • Taking risks is necessary to instigate change in a work environment.
  • The speaker took a risk by presenting a document to a director at Blizzard, leading to a change in their role.
  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of discussing negative workplace experiences to create a better work culture.
  • The speaker recounts their transition from a QA role to a more fulfilling position at Blizzard.
  • The conversation between the speaker and another individual touches on attire for an upcoming event, including the speaker's ownership of a suit and a house.
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