Former VFX Lead At Blizzard Details Company’s ‘Fake Promotion’ & HR Irregularities

Chris Sayers, a former Visual Effects Lead at Blizzard Entertainment, recently voiced his concerns and reasons for resigning from the company via a series of Twitter posts. He highlighted issues such as mistreatment, deceit by management, and inadequate support from Human Resources as significant factors that compelled him to leave. Sayers acknowledged the positive aspects of working with dedicated teammates but pointed out that the negative experiences overshadowed these, ultimately affecting his mental well-being.

Within his tweets, Sayers elaborated on the challenges he faced, including handling an overwhelming volume of work. This was partly due to unmet promises and unrealistic expectations set by his supervisors. He shared a particularly disillusioning experience regarding a supposed promotion. According to Sayers, what was initially presented as a promotion to Lead VFX Artist on the cosmetics team turned out to be a mere shift in responsibilities without the promised increase in pay.

Sayers also shed light on the company’s handling of another employee's situation, which, combined with the refusal to recruit additional support, further burdened him. Attempts to seek clarification and rectification regarding the supposedly promised pay raise were met with delays and excuses, showcasing a lack of commitment to ethical salary practices.

Commenting on the business angle, it's noted that from a broad perspective, HR's actions might mirror standard corporate behavior where upper management roles come with their sets of pressures, and a firm might not always cater to individual desires. Nevertheless, Sayers' account of how his promotional expectations were mishandled is alarming, especially when considering the increase in workload without corresponding compensation.

Adding to the controversy, Sayers detailed his encounter with HR where he was informed that what he believed to be a promotion did not warrant a pay raise, contrary to his understanding. Following a formal complaint from Sayers, HR maintained that procedures had been correctly followed. This situation reflects poorly on Blizzard, considering its history of handling complaints.

Sayers’ departure from the company was compounded by a restriction due to a non-compete clause in his contract, barring him from employment in similar roles elsewhere for three months without any form of compensation.

The presence of such clauses in contracts, particularly for higher positions, is not unusual in the industry. However, Sayers’ narrative suggests he was burdened with the responsibilities typical of senior positions without receiving the accompanying benefits, an approach that raises ethical questions about workplace fairness.

While acknowledging the account shared is solely from Sayers’ perspective, and Blizzard’s response to these claims is yet to be heard, it is difficult to overlook the ongoing pattern of grievances associated with Blizzard's workplace culture. Given Blizzard's previous legal challenges and public scrutiny over its work environment, Sayers’ experiences add to the growing concern over the company's treatment of its employees