They accuse Nintendo of America of insecurity and poor working conditions after a controversial complaint

Just days ago, an unidentified ex-employee called out to the company to prevent union formation.

For many, working in the video game industry is a dream. However, more and more companies are abusing their authority and they draw all the energy of their workers during developments. Nintendo was the latest company to enter this controversy as they recently accused the American division of violating workers’ rights. prevent unionization these. After that, the parents of Mario, Link, and more characters responded with their own version of the story, but there’s still a lot to tell.

There are employees who do not reach the minimum wage.Kotaku is investigating these allegations and after speaking to 10 current and former Nintendo of America employees, the situation far from ideal. To begin with, anonymous people talk about mandatory contracts that have a long duration. 11 months (with a break of two months or more between contracts) and a salary of $16 per hour (one figure not reaching minimum wage in a city where houses are very expensive).

You contribute to these games and their quality, reasons why players come backJelena DzamonjaMost employees believe Nintendo has enough purchasing power. better working conditions which will significantly improve the situation of workers Jelena Dzamonja. This employee started out as a tester in Nintendo offices, but soon took on more responsibilities that included supervision and training of other professionals in his industry.

Despite this improvement, Dzamonja continued to be industrious. part time someone who spends as much time on projects as a full-time employee: “There are a lot of talented people who find the biggest mistakes to scare away players,” explains the pro. “They find them, report them, and then they were not credited“Your contribution to those games and their quality hurts your pride, reasons why players always come back.”

They want to control you like you are [un trabajador] full time, but he doesn’t treat you the way you areJelena DzamonjaThis is made worse by the anecdote told to Kotaku that Dzamonja hit his head hard from slipping on the snow. With no apparent serious injuries, he continued his professional work and later began to suffer. concussion symptoms: blurred vision and difficulty reading. Even though the Nintendo of America building has a clinic, they were unable to attend (part time) due to their contract. did not have health insurance.

“They want to control you as if you were you. [un trabajador] full time but don’t act like you are“, Dzamonja tells Kotaku. Also, years at the company don’t guarantee a full-time position in the future: “You can work with someone for 20 years and not be invited to company lunch,” he explains. Being hired full-time is like a carrot tied to a stick. keep holding on [el mal trato]‘ says another active worker.

Also, employees don’t know who has it. decision power to change the working environment. responsibility? Douglas Bowser? From other managers? Or maybe everything has to go through Nintendo Japan? In any case, Kotaku sources also do not dare to speak openly about their circumstances: “The general feeling is, You will be punished for being frank at all levels,” explains a full-time employee. “They know they can get out of trouble because there’s a queue of people out there who want to be hired“, they comment.

The stories of these employees add to the stories we’ve heard before in the video game industry. In this sense, Activision Blizzard was featured in many news reports as it launched a wave of layoffs at Raven Software, the support developer for several episodes of Call of Duty, and denied the unity of staff. In the case of Nintendo of America, Elisabeth Pring, fired without notice In the middle of the contract, he ends by saying, “You have to go after what you want in this industry because they’re never going to give it to you.” “I love video games and someone needs to change this industry“.

More on: Nintendo, Nintendo of America, Labor Rights, Complaints and Litigation.