Sony denies big job cuts

Sony Computer Entertainment America’s (SCEA) Corporate Communications Sr. Director Dave Karraker denied reports of a massive layoff in their Foster City headquarters, describing the figures as “way high.”

A report stating that 80-100 people lost their jobs circulated in some gaming blogs several days ago, causing distress in the Sony turf. Karraker, however, said that less than 50 people actually got laid off and that they were treated fairly in what he calls “normal business procedure.”

Karraker also clarified that these employees were not from game development departments and that this area of their business will not be affected in any way. Those who lost their jobs were mostly marketing and operations people.

The claim is supported by the American WARN act which stipulates that companies undertaking major layoffs must issue a 60-day notice to employees if they plan to snip away at their labor force. Sony did not issue such a notice, which indicates that the act was not classified as a mass lay-off and that it must not have gone to the tune of hundreds, strengthening Sony’s claim.

The clause in the act is phrased as “A WARN notice is required when a business with 100 or more full-time workers (not counting workers who have less than 6 months on the job and workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week) is laying off at least 50 people at a single site of employment.”

“We treated people quite fairly. Everyone got severances based on their tenure with the company,” says Karraker, as he reiterated that there’s definitely no mass exit on the part of rank and file workers.

Via Games Daily

Sony Computer Entertainment America’s (SCEA) Corporate Communications Sr. Director Dave Karraker denied reports of a massive layoff in their Foster City headquarters, describing the figures as “way high.”

A report stating that 80-100 people lost their jobs circulated in some gaming blogs several days ago, causing distress in the Sony turf. Karraker, however, said that less than 50 people actually got laid off and that they were treated fairly in what he calls “normal business procedure.”

Karraker also clarified that these employees were not from game development departments and that this area of their business will not be affected in any way. Those who lost their jobs were mostly marketing and operations people.

The claim is supported by the American WARN act which stipulates that companies undertaking major layoffs must issue a 60-day notice to employees if they plan to snip away at their labor force. Sony did not issue such a notice, which indicates that the act was not classified as a mass lay-off and that it must not have gone to the tune of hundreds, strengthening Sony’s claim.

The clause in the act is phrased as “A WARN notice is required when a business with 100 or more full-time workers (not counting workers who have less than 6 months on the job and workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week) is laying off at least 50 people at a single site of employment.”

“We treated people quite fairly. Everyone got severances based on their tenure with the company,” says Karraker, as he reiterated that there’s definitely no mass exit on the part of rank and file workers.

Via Games Daily