Seeing an increase in relevance lately thanks to meme stocks, GameStop rose over seven points today as part of its upward trajectory that started on May 24. Despite stock increases, some GameStop employees are walking out, with one notable team leaving a sign criticizing their district manager on the door to their store.
Since the stock memes brought GameStop out of a downward spiral, the specialty gaming business has changed its model in multiple ways such as the company getting into other meme investments like NFTs, Cryptocurrency, and Blockchain. Traditionally, GameStop has made revenue through trades, add-on insurance, and memberships, but it is diversifying its portfolio for interested investors. Some GameStop employees that don't share those interests have walked away from their jobs over the weekend in protest of a district manager in Nebraska.
As spotted by Kotaku, four employees at the Gateway Mall location in Lincoln, Nebraska have made the decision to quit GameStop simultaneously, leaving the door to the busy location locked to any gamers looking to make a purchase. With a note from the GameStop employees taped to the door, shoppers were informed that the team quit because their "district manager has no respect" for them as "employees or human beings." According to the post, sales quotes and performance weren't being met despite the employees' best efforts and the team had less than six months to reach the lofty expectations referred to in the note.
The GameStop employees from Lincoln weren't content leaving their customers waiting for the items they went to the mall to shop for; their note mentions stores that they can still find products at like EntertainMart, Gamers, and GameRoom. The address for each location is also stated above a recommendation that consumers spend their money "at an establishment that respects its employees." According to Frank Maurer, one of the aforementioned GameStop workers, the Gateway Mall staff was being overworked in a way that affected their health, with Maurer making $17 per hour as a manager and the remaining GameStop employees earning low wages.
Frank Maurer included some details about the district manager beyond the note left on the GameStop door, alleging that “he was abusive verbally,” and “he would constantly threaten people’s jobs.” A similar walkout happened at a nearby GameStop in Lincoln, Nebraska, with a note there also blaming the district manager and a total of four have happened in the area in recent months. Although Kotaku reached out to GameStop regarding the employee walkout in Nebraska, it didn't receive much information beyond the location being opened up again soon.
Quitting GameStop employees have made statements about their experiences with the company through several methods since the company was at its peak. Another GameStop district manager was laid off to help cut costs recently and the district manager in Lincoln, Nebraska may feel increased pressure to perform which has seemingly impacted their group of stores. While GameStop is shuffling some resources around to reopen the Lincoln, Nebraska store, it's currently unclear when GameStop will re-open for Gateway Mall customers.
Source: Kotaku