Rockstar Games Worker Union Calls Return To Office Mandate ‘Reckless’ And ‘Unacceptable’

It’s all hands on deck over at Rockstar Games as hype builds up for Grand Theft Auto 6, along with the pressure of living up that hype. So much so that UK-based Rockstar North has released a Return to Office order which will require all employees to work on-site for five days of the week.

Rockstar Games head of publishing Jenn Kolbe says that the goal is to increase productivity and security as the studio enters the final stretch in the highly awaited game’s development. Employees who have been working from home or with hybrid setups are naturally pushing back against the mandate, prompting the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) to step in.

The IWGB called the decision “reckless,” accused the studio of breaking its promises, and called them out for not consulting with employees prior to releasing the RTO order. The union also raised concerns about health issues related to working on-site, problems with living arrangements, and the potential for crunch as the studio works to get GTA 6 to the finish line.

“It is unacceptable that Rockstar leadership have gone back on their word time and time again and have ignored the workers’ requests for basic working conditions,” said IWGB chairperson Austin Kelmore. “Workers across the industry are done with letting executives make reckless and harmful decisions and the Rockstar workers are showing us the start of what’s to come if they’re continually ignored.”

As someone who’s been working remotely for nearly a decade now, I can safely say that it has its pros and cons. I wouldn’t give it up for an office job though.

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