Written January 25, 2011 - Roger R. Carter
By Chris Morris
Disney has confirmed that a layoff has hit its gaming studio employees. Although Disney reps would not confirm the number of employees affected, sources say it could be 30%-50% of the 700 person division.
Check out the following article to read more on the current Disney Gaming layoffs.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Boeing Cutting 900 Jobs at Long Beach Plant
Written December 4, 2004 - Roger R. Carter
By W.J. Hennigan
Amidst this current economic downturn, more and more companies are having trouble sustaining the work force they once strongly employed. Yet another company to hit these hardships is Boeing.
Due to a lack of sales of its C-17 Cargo Planes, Boeing is now cutting 900 employees from its Long Beach plant, which is expected to shut down completely by the end of next year. Speculation is that the newly laid-off employees may have a tough time finding new employment as California's unemployment rate is currently at 12.4%, Los Angeles County being 12.9%.
Check out the following article to read more on the current Boeing layoffs.
By W.J. Hennigan
Amidst this current economic downturn, more and more companies are having trouble sustaining the work force they once strongly employed. Yet another company to hit these hardships is Boeing.
Due to a lack of sales of its C-17 Cargo Planes, Boeing is now cutting 900 employees from its Long Beach plant, which is expected to shut down completely by the end of next year. Speculation is that the newly laid-off employees may have a tough time finding new employment as California's unemployment rate is currently at 12.4%, Los Angeles County being 12.9%.
Check out the following article to read more on the current Boeing layoffs.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Myspace Layoff Letter Adds Insult to Injury
Written December 4, 2004 - Roger R. Carter
By Amy Lee
Myspace has recently made a drastic change for the future by following a massive web re-design with a 500-person layoff. According to reports, staffers helped Myspace undergo a complete transformation, converting the previous social network's aesthetics and functionality to a more generic entertainment site, as to end the competition with Facebook. Myspace CEO Mike Jones concluded the layoff with a "goodbye letter thanking fired employees for their help during a 'unique moment' in history," which added insult to injury.
Many employees within this industry, namely designers and developers, find themselves with a misclassification question-exempt vs non exempt employee status. This status is important when dealing with overtime issues because many exempt employees believe they are not entitled to wage recovery. To find out more about potential exempt job titles and qualification for unpaid wage recovery please visit http://www.carterlawfirm.net/practice-areas/non-exempt-professionals/index.html.
If you or anyone you know have been employed by Myspace, or any similar company, and have experienced unpaid overtime or job title misclassification (working over 40hrs per week as a salaried employee to complete a design job by a deadline while not being paid overtime), please contact the Carter Law Firm.
By Amy Lee
Myspace has recently made a drastic change for the future by following a massive web re-design with a 500-person layoff. According to reports, staffers helped Myspace undergo a complete transformation, converting the previous social network's aesthetics and functionality to a more generic entertainment site, as to end the competition with Facebook. Myspace CEO Mike Jones concluded the layoff with a "goodbye letter thanking fired employees for their help during a 'unique moment' in history," which added insult to injury.
Once again unpaid design/programming overtime may be an issue here, this time at Myspace. Please check out the following article about Myspace Layoff Letter Adds Insult to Injury.
If you or anyone you know have been employed by Myspace, or any similar company, and have experienced unpaid overtime or job title misclassification (working over 40hrs per week as a salaried employee to complete a design job by a deadline while not being paid overtime), please contact the Carter Law Firm.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Video -Game Workers Sue for Overtime Pay
Written December 4, 2004 - Roger R. Carter
By Dean Takahashi
Many employees within this industry, namely designers and developers, find themselves with a misclassification question-exempt vs non exempt employee status. This status is important when dealing with overtime issues because many exempt employees believe they are not entitled to wage recovery. To find out more about potential exempt job titles and qualification for unpaid wage recovery please visit http://www.carterlawfirm.net/practice-areas/non-exempt-professionals/index.html.
By Dean Takahashi
Once again unpaid gaming overtime is an issue, this time at EA. Please check out the following article about Video Game Workers Suing For Overtime Pay.
IGDA: Regarding Overtime Concerns at Rockstar San Diego
Written January 13, 2010 - Roger R. Carter
By Joe Sapp
By Joe Sapp
The International Game Developers Association has recently been made aware of concerns regarding excessive crunch during the development of games produced by the company Rockstar, namely Red Dead Redemption. Funnily enough this issue was brought up by the wives of Rockstar employees who recognize the absence or their loved one from home while trying to meet a gaming deadline.
Design companies, particularly video game design companies, really raise the concept of excessive, uncompensated overtime. Is there a point in which it becomes harmful to not only the developers but to the industry as a whole?
In attempt to combat this issue, the IGDA has pushed to raise awareness of the quality of life issues within the industry. Please read more on the IDGA's Concern Regarding Overtime at Rockstar San Diego.
Many employees within this industry, namely designers and developers, find themselves with a misclassification question-exempt vs non exempt employee status. This status is important when dealing with overtime issues because many exempt employees believe they are not entitled to wage recovery. To find out more about potential exempt job titles and qualification for unpaid wage recovery please visit http://www.carterlawfirm.net/practice-areas/non-exempt-professionals/index.html.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Scrum & Overtime
Written January 8, 2010 - Roger R. Carter
By Clinton Keith
By Clinton Keith
Overtime within the gaming industry is a topic that was brought to the forefront of employment law with the class action lawsuits against Electronic Arts and Rockstar Games by employees alleging unpaid overtime.
Many employees within this industry, namely designers and developers, find themselves with a misclassification question-exempt vs non exempt employee status. This status is important when dealing with overtime issues because many exempt employees believe they are not entitled to wage recovery. To find out more about potential exempt job titles and qualification for unpaid wage recovery please visit http://www.carterlawfirm.net/practice-areas/non-exempt-professionals/index.html.
We recently came across this great article covering topics such as scrum, overtime and agile game development within the gaming industry. When it comes to game development, it is said that Scrum avoids overtime because development teams can decide to drop some of their Sprint goals if they are faced with too much to do within 40 hour weeks. Does scrum really help overworked employees or does it ultimately allow employees to jump ship when the hurdles of completion seem too daunting?
The gaming industry revolves are time management of development teams; too much time and deadlines are not met, too little time and overtime accrues in employees’ favor. Check out the following article to read more on applying Agile Methodologies to game development.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Orange County Employment Attorney Wins Settlements for Employees
Written January 8, 2010 - Roger R. Carter
By Roger Carter
Roger Carter is an Employment attorney in Orange County. Mr Carter focuses on employment law and represents employees who have been wrongfully terminated, discriminated against, or not received proper wages including overtime pay. Within the last 4 years The Carter Law Firm's total recoveries has exceeded $100,000,000.
Some of his case wins include the following
Adv. VMWARE $6,500,000
2007: Plaintiff filed a Complaint against VMWARE (a worldwide IT product distributor who employs several “engineers” that were allegedly classified as “salary exempt” irrespective of their duties or daily tasks) on behalf of himself (a QA Engineer) and all employees who worked for VMWARE in California as software engineers, test engineers, systems administrators, QA engineers (platform solutions –automation engineer and manual testing), and QA 2 engineers (platform solutions – manual testing). This wage and hour class action sought the recovery of overtime compensation. In his complaint, Plaintiff alleged that VMWARE violated the California Labor Code and California Business & Professions Code § 17200 by classifying individuals in the enumerated job categories as exempt from payment of overtime under California law, failing to provide meal periods and rest breaks as required under the California Labor Code, and failing to provide adequate itemized wage statements. Plaintiff sought compensatory damages, restitution under California Business & Professions Code § 17200, and penalties under the Labor Code.
Adv. Lending Tree $2,500,000
2008: Plaintiffs filed a Complaint against Lending Tree (an online marketplace of lenders where consumers can complete a loan request and compare offers from competing lenders) on behalf of loan officers, mortgage bankers, equity specialists, and any similar positions, bringing causes of action for unpaid overtime, failure to provide meal breaks, unauthorized deductions, waiting time penalties, improper wage statements and unfair business practices.
Adv. Lone Star Steakhouse $750,000
2007: Plaintiff filed a Complaint against Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon on behalf of himself and others similarly situated. The complaint contained causes of action for failure to pay overtime compensation, unlawful business practices, failure to provide meal periods, failure to provide rest periods, failure to provide itemized wage statements, failure to pay wages upon termination of employment, failure to pay minimum wages and failure to provide and maintain uniforms (violations of Labor Code sections 1194, 226.7, 512, 203 as well as California Business & Professions Code section 17200).
If you need to speak with an Orange County employment attorney familiar with the Fair Labor Standard Act Laws then contact the Carter Law Firm.
Carter Law Firm
2030 Main Street, Suite 1300
Irvine, CA 92614
(949) 260-4737
By Roger Carter
Roger Carter is an Employment attorney in Orange County. Mr Carter focuses on employment law and represents employees who have been wrongfully terminated, discriminated against, or not received proper wages including overtime pay. Within the last 4 years The Carter Law Firm's total recoveries has exceeded $100,000,000.
Some of his case wins include the following
Adv. VMWARE $6,500,000
2007: Plaintiff filed a Complaint against VMWARE (a worldwide IT product distributor who employs several “engineers” that were allegedly classified as “salary exempt” irrespective of their duties or daily tasks) on behalf of himself (a QA Engineer) and all employees who worked for VMWARE in California as software engineers, test engineers, systems administrators, QA engineers (platform solutions –automation engineer and manual testing), and QA 2 engineers (platform solutions – manual testing). This wage and hour class action sought the recovery of overtime compensation. In his complaint, Plaintiff alleged that VMWARE violated the California Labor Code and California Business & Professions Code § 17200 by classifying individuals in the enumerated job categories as exempt from payment of overtime under California law, failing to provide meal periods and rest breaks as required under the California Labor Code, and failing to provide adequate itemized wage statements. Plaintiff sought compensatory damages, restitution under California Business & Professions Code § 17200, and penalties under the Labor Code.
Adv. Lending Tree $2,500,000
2008: Plaintiffs filed a Complaint against Lending Tree (an online marketplace of lenders where consumers can complete a loan request and compare offers from competing lenders) on behalf of loan officers, mortgage bankers, equity specialists, and any similar positions, bringing causes of action for unpaid overtime, failure to provide meal breaks, unauthorized deductions, waiting time penalties, improper wage statements and unfair business practices.
Adv. Lone Star Steakhouse $750,000
2007: Plaintiff filed a Complaint against Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon on behalf of himself and others similarly situated. The complaint contained causes of action for failure to pay overtime compensation, unlawful business practices, failure to provide meal periods, failure to provide rest periods, failure to provide itemized wage statements, failure to pay wages upon termination of employment, failure to pay minimum wages and failure to provide and maintain uniforms (violations of Labor Code sections 1194, 226.7, 512, 203 as well as California Business & Professions Code section 17200).
If you need to speak with an Orange County employment attorney familiar with the Fair Labor Standard Act Laws then contact the Carter Law Firm.
Carter Law Firm
2030 Main Street, Suite 1300
Irvine, CA 92614
(949) 260-4737
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)