Report: Tension Growing Among Nintendo of America Employees

Perceptions of Nintendo share a lot of similarities with those of Disney: a happy, joyful company where dreams come true. However, a recent report by Kat Bailey for IGN goes in-depth into the noted changing culture at Nintendo of America (NOA) and the drastic impact it has had on employees.

Bailey paints a grim, divided portrayal of Nintendo of America’s campus, with contractors housed in antiquated facilities while fully employed staff work in modern, lavish environments. The staff are kept separate, designated by “Red” and “Blue” badges. Once an opportunity for job growth and development, contractor positions at Nintendo of America are now a place for stagnancy. Former contractor workers shared their experiences with IGN, noting a discouraging work environment with strict attendance schedules and arbitrary rules and restrictions without room for career advancement.

These contractor workers are noted to be basically “second-class citizens.” The report includes anecdotal experiences of such workers feeling unwelcome even in the main Nintendo of America’s headquarters. Per Melissa, a former chat consumer service representative, “[I] really started to feel a lot of resentment because of the huge disparity between us associates and the actual NOA employees. We were excluded from pretty much every activity or event.” With few benefits and little hope of path to full employment or unionization, contractor employees at Nintendo of America face a significant struggle in the already tumultuous gaming landscape.

This was indeed a disconcerting glimpse into a company we all know and love dearly. It seems as if the policies under late Satoru Iwata and during the heyday of the Wii have slipped in recent years. In an exclusive IGN interview with Reggie Fils-Aimé to promote his memoir, Disrupting the Game, Fils-Aimé details the early resistance he faced with initiating cultural changes for increasing innovation and leadership within Nintendo of America. He states that, during his tenure, recruitment and advancement among contractor employees to full-time employees was the norm. There is a sense now, however, that the parent Nintendo company has shifted towards stricter protocols, requiring both contractor and full-time employees to increase performance with less resources, leading to increased frustration.

To read the entire report from IGN, click here.

What are your thoughts on these reports as Nintendo fans? And in what ways do you think the company can work to improve their work environments to foster creativity and innovation? Leave your comments below!

Source: IGN

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