Rockstar, an American video- game publisher, summoned its employees back to office five times a week. The decision made last week was scheduled for April, coinciding with the final stages of Grand Theft Auto VI’s development, with the primary goal of bolstering security due to previous breaches.
However, a recent report from Video Games Chronicle (VGC) reveals discontent among Rockstar employees regarding the mandated return to the office on a full-time basis.
In an internal email sent to employees, the company justified the move by citing productivity and security concerns. Jenn Kolbe, head of publishing, Rockstar, also emphasised the advantages of working from the office, asserting that it positions them to deliver Grand Theft Auto VI with the necessary quality and polish, aligned with the ambitious scale of the game’s publishing roadmap.
Reportedly, some employees feel that working from home is crucial, serving as a “lifeline” for many, while others expressed frustration at not being consulted prior to the decision.
The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) and certain Rockstar employees strongly oppose the company’s directive to return to the office. They are arguing that abandoning remote work may lead to the resurgence of detrimental working conditions.
Furthermore, the employees fear the management may be paving the way for a return to demanding crunch (making employees work overtime in order to meet deadlines in the development of a project) practices. They called for senior leadership to reconsider the decision, urging engagement with staff to find a mutually- beneficial arrangement.
The employees prefer the previous flexibility of attending late meetings from home and emphasised the potential negative impact on family time.
