GameStop remains the go-to physical location for many trying to purchase games and consoles, despite it shifting to more of an online order-centered outlet. This includes, of course, cheap sales on Black Friday and constantly trying to restock on the latest consoles.
What many may not know however is that many employees who worked through the terror of Black Friday also worked through the Thanksgiving Day before it, as GameStop did not let its employees off for the holiday. This is only the latest in a long line of grievances that GameStop employees have with the chain and are making increasingly kown.
See, GameStop has never had the best reputation as a place to work, and that reputation is only worsening now. Not long ago, GameStop's stock was circling the toilet before a series of online investers kicked it back up high in a meme-worthy saga. However, while those soaring stock prices meant a lot to investors, little of that money has improved life for the retail workers who are GameStop's lifeblood. Their complaints are often shared on the GameStop subreddit, and as PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles restock, those complaints only get more numerous.
As consoles come in and are bought, employees were put under the uncommon and awful stress of constantly telling people they can't get their hands on said consoles. Worse, the hours are long, especially around this season, and management is unforgiving. But perhaps worst of all is the compensation, as despite money being pumped into the company through its stocks in an unprecedented way, a pay freeze is in place for its rank and file employees. As even large chains like Target raise their wages, GameStop employees are stuck at $9 an hour. GameStop's Chief Operating Officer recently left after just seven months, and that puts her in line with many GameStop retail employees.
These complaints do not come from undedicated or lazy workers either, as a passion for video games is often translated into a dedication for GameStop workers that many find surprising. At least one GameStop employee even chased down a thief.
Thank you cards from GameStop
Sadly, this is only one of many examples this year of companies in the video game sphere treating their employees cruelly, and it likely won't be the last. Maybe GameStop should look into keeping its employees around instead of getting into NFTs.