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EA: White collar slavery

Just read it: http://www.livejournal.com/users/ea_spouse/

If you're in the software industry and you recognize this story, remember this: your employer doesn't own you nor is it your fault some project is late on schedule (there are people responsible for that, you just write software).

You work to live, you don't live to work.

Published Friday, November 12, 2004 9:58 AM by FransBouma

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# EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 1:18 AM

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# re: EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 7:26 AM

This is shocking and disgusting – The problem also is that EA controls such a big market of the gaming industry that the engineers and artist can probably not really leave to go somewhere else.

This will make me think twice about buying another EA game – but who will I be punishing? EA or their staff – and they seem to be doing that job pretty good by themselves.

Wayne Barker

# re: EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 10:36 AM

Frans, this is very common in the US. I have had personal experiences were the CEO of the company told me "make it happen by the deadline - I dont care how many hours it takes. If you can't, we won't need your services" Many people over here just go with the program laid out by management. Its sad.

Thomas Wagner

# re: EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 10:37 AM

Thomas: Hmmm. I heard the working conditions are not that great in the US but this is very bad... so a manager can fire you for whatever reason?

Here, if you have a contract, it's not a one-way street, it's a 2-way street: the employer has an obligation to you too and can't drop the contract for whatever reason, he first has to ask for a license to fire you in court. (basic procedure, but still requires effort from the employer, and if the reason they give is not enough, the judge won't agree to it and the employer can't fire you.

Frans Bouma

# re: EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 11:36 AM

I just got done reading this article as I was going through my blog reader! My first thought was: quit! When you are smart and a good programmer, people need you...and you deserve better.

Sean Chase

# RE: EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 11:58 AM

My sentiments exactly. You work to live!

http://haacked.com/archive/2004/10/16/1376.aspx

haacked@yahoo.com (Haacked)

# re: EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 12:11 PM

Looks like this story has had an effect. Slashdot is reporting a potential class action lawsuit.

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/11/12/0537234

Haacked

# re: EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 12:13 PM

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/11/11/news_6112998.html

might be trouble in EA land now.

Mike

# re: EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 5:36 PM

I thought that i will just add a bit. I am from South Africa and here the labour laws are very strict (good). A person normally works 40 hours a week here with a required 1hour break every 4 hours worked. if the employer requires you to work overtime - you have the right to reject :) however if you accept then you are not allowed by Law to work more than 45 hours a week.

And i am suppose to live in a 3rd world country - Yah right i'll rather live here and have rights than live in the USA (1st world country) that allows these type of things.

Wayne Barker

# re: EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 8:48 PM

Frans - I agree that this is some scummy sh1t - but to be honest, they should have just walked. There's plenty of work these days and plenty of software companies that are dying for people. I intentionally don't talk about the working conditions at my current company because they are so good and I don't want to gloat or seem boastful. The same holds for my last company. With only one exception, every company i've ever worked for had really really great working conditions and by in large, that's pretty much the standard for the industry. Yes, you work a lot - but you get treated well and compensated well. Accounting and Law are where Real exploitation happen because there are a lot of A-holes there that think screwing with the new people and making them 'pay their dues' is a good thing.

I mean, let's say you start working and you're pulling in 150k a year and then the company starts this crap. Yes, you might not be able to run right out and get another job but there's plenty of jobs that pay pretty darned well out there. And if you just bought a 400k house and new Porsche so you need that salary - how is it the company's fault?

i'm not condoning EA - I think it's disgusting and i do concur with your point - but I think 20 top developers taking a walk would have done much more to change the culture and been a lot better for every party involved. Losing a job can be a setback or opportunity depending on how you behave afterward...

I don't think I'll be buying and EA stuff in the future though.

Bill

# re: EA: White collar slavery@ Friday, November 12, 2004 10:16 PM

Frans said: "Hmmm. I heard the working conditions are not that great in the US but this is very bad... so a manager can fire you for whatever reason? "

Unfortunately, many (most?) employee / employer agreements in the US are "at-will". That means they can fire you for no reason. Of course, it's a two way street, meaning that the employee can leave for no reason.

Michael Eaton

# re: EA: White collar slavery@ Saturday, November 13, 2004 7:32 PM

Michael: yes, that's true but there's one thing that I doubt most other countries have to deal with as bad as here - laywers. You can be fired for just about anything, but you can also sue for just about anything and there are tons of attorneys that aren't afraid of frivilous cases.

Bill

# Working hours@ Sunday, November 14, 2004 11:03 PM

Working hours

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