CrytekThrowaway
253892
4712
126
CRYTEK hasn't paid me (or my coworkers) for almost 6 months. HELP!
I'm not sure where else to turn at this point. This has happened in the past a few times, but never for this long. Management never gives anyone a heads up, and it isn’t clear to me if they are getting paid or even informed from the owners.
The last time this happened we were told it would be the last time and yet it is happening again. Many of my co-workers moved from out of the country to work here and are unable to leave because they cannot afford to get back home due to their wages being withheld for so long.
People are afraid to speak out because we are continuously told “Thank you for your continued efforts through this difficult time” and “You don’t understand because you don’t see the whole picture like we do— wages are coming soon.”
The brothers had a meeting a few months ago and assured everyone that the issue was finally fixed and there should be no more problems. That is not the case. People are still working without pay. This isn’t just here in Germany, this is in all of our offices as far as I can tell.
Upper management refuses to speak to any of us and our managers have no answers. We have never been apologized to, and they refuse to talk to us.
I am posting on imgur as a last resort with hopes that this post goes viral and forces those on top to address the issues.
eddine
Yea I Doubt crytek are phased by Imgur. But hey a FUCKING LAWYER might help.
Redirishman23
I'd already have taken as many computers, servers, office furniture, etc and resold as much as possible to recoup my lost wages.
detoxfive
Crytek have done this far too many times. I had a similar issue with Codies too. I'm so sorry and hope you guys and your families are ok
wtfstupidusername
If this is legit.. Buckle up, it's lawyer time!
Dots77
Quit you fucking retard.
theREALmoose
Report them to the department of labor
fiddleleaffigfanatic
Seriously stop working!! Hey ya got nothing to lose
KarneeKarnay
Dude get out now. Crytek have been in trouble for a long time. Start applying for jobs asap.
InternetGoodGuy
I hope OP hasn't gone 6 months without pay and doesn't have applications or there.
UpvoteSquirrel
I wish I had you tell me that 8 years ago. This guys right, start applying. I hear CD Projket are hiring in Poland.
notlegato
damn, i have no sympathy, if you're actually dumb enough to work for free for half a year straight.
Zitronensalat
You risk to loose your claim if you just walk away and the file for bankruptcy the next day.
notlegato
okay, which is more preferable: losing a month's pay, or *most likely* losing six months' pay. wasting your own savings in this case...
invalidusernam3
I applied for a job at Crytek a while back but decided to not bother with the interview. Looks like it was a good call!
ElvisCampbell
Poor management - they won't get better just because they get cash in. Plus they will have big bills. Move on.
primalmammal
That sounds like slavery. Maybe you should all stop working. Like go to work and sit in front of your boss' office.
Viper1884
Have any actual proof? Not to be rude but I don't believe 99% of the things I read on the Internet.
Sakkura
To be fair, they've done this before. http://www.polygon.com/2014/8/8/5982995/crytek-employee-pay-withheld-save-company-cevat-yerli
ewerybody
Well I dont get whats the news about that headline. If I own a company like that: Would totally do the same! Wouldn't you??!?
stabbedintheface
When your employer stops paying you...they've fired you
morecowbelling
And...why do you still work there?
Sublime1981
Plus one. Because you me and like 2 other people are the only ones that are like "and you continue to do work for them why?"
gargaj
I can't speak for them but either their contract restricts them or they love the actual job too much. A lot of gamedev is about idealism.
TheAsterite
Writing has been on the wall at crytek for a while. Find another job and sue for wages.
Raiden2370
A heard a few went to Cloud Imperium Games
paulus1978
Most of their Germany studio Foundry 42 DE is comprised of Ex-Crytek from the last time this happened. Can see it having more applications
kolfacekilla
I'M ON IT! *flushes toilet*
ReadOnlyMemories
Shitter's clogged...
localbloke
Hitlersbulgingmilkybreasts
Kiwiiiiu
Oh shit
Sasarious
toiletnator?
ticoson88
Thats fantastic.. i chuckled well done!
JoeOrdinary
Why the fuck dont you stop working? Cash,grass or ass, nobody codes for free.
mostlytigerproof
Can't say I've ever had the other two come up in a salary negotiation
darkestkale
Have you asked tho?
Sicpio
To the FP
DieFlammenwerfer
R/legaladvise on Reddit, check it out.
ewok4life
Ty
lawrus
Do not go there. Consult an actual lawyer.
lawrus
DO NOT GO HERE. If you need legal advice, consult a lawyer. Most real lawyers wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole.
samout
There are actual lawyers there and people studying law. They should contact The Video Game Lawyer(forgot his real name) who's also there btw
Ifnkovhgroghprm
Lurk there a week or two. It's mostly "Do I need a lawyer for this" triage.
attackSACHEL
There are literally hundreds of more effective ways to handle this.
Sublime1981
Like quitting and not working for free like an idiot.
lawrus
It appears this person has tried them all
attackSACHEL
cavymeister
Umm... Find another job?
BattloidKouji
Often, with things like h1-bs they can't. if they leave the job they got the visa for, they aren't really welcome in the country anymore.
fantasticalunicorn
though if they moved there for work they're probably European? so it means they're entitled to stay. Unless they're american I guess?
cavymeister
Can't they report the company to immigration? Businesses have to follow regs too.
BattloidKouji
theoretically they could, but they risk retaliation from the company, and never getting paid if immigration doesn't follow through.
theREALmoose
3rd party reporting is a thing you know
Sublime1981
They aren't getting paid now and no guarantee of pay in the future. Not seeing the down side buddy.
reux
Yup, delaying the inevitable
Subsound
Well, if they stop paying you are you even really employed? Sounds like they are just cheating you, time to find a lawyer...
callmecaptainjack
Grant0
They uh... fixed the glitch.
metheloser
Waste your entire day getting nothing done a dont do jack shit, just play warface or some shit the whole day
themarcmac
They don't pay I don't work
KidKarless
Then you dont have a job. Sometimes this shit happens, you work through it and benifit. Of coars some people take advatage of that tho
imgursample
Bi-weekly, work 2 weeks = paycheck, no check, no more work till check
Klingon00
https://cdn.meme.am/cache/instances/folder247/500x/61231247.jpg
DickMercenary
Hopefully they don't take OP's stapler..
mysecretshameishookersworthonequarterportion
Make a killswitch program like that guy
lllMisfitlll
Subsound
I worked at a company where one IT guy did that, wiped the entire data warehouse. Awesome, but lots of legal trouble
Ishalldefenestrateyou
That is like burning down a workshop, that other guy just took home his toolbox that others got used to using.
FelixTheCAT5e
A lawyer should be the first person to talk to.
FelixTheCAT5e
Thinking about it, naming the company can put you in some hot water, too.
Subsound
True, but imagine the press for going after an employee complains about labor violations wondering if they can pay bills
noveltyanomaly
isnt there a law that protects whistleblowers??
Subsound
It's often hard and long to enforce, I've heard up to a decade
Kolondril
Not everywhere. I know in Canada the whistleblower protection is weak. But this is Germany, which I know nothing about.
McGreed
I'm guessing that the problem is that how are they suppose to pay him, if they haven't got any money.
Capt1ve7
Many lawyers in a case like this will ask for payment on a win in which a settlement is reached
phoenixsphinx
in germany you can get a lawyer and the state pays if you have no funds but it looks like you will win
TheBadDad
Who the hell can live without pay for 6 months?
Sublime1981
I'm not concerned with who can, I am concerned with who would. I find it difficult to have pity on someone who continues to 1/2
Sublime1981
perform a service for someone who is continually shafting them on pay. Stop doing work for them, problem solved.
Sluggingforward
Minors.
missleadinginiformation
I've got a years salary saved up
equityforpunks
I have about amount of 3y of pay on my savings account.. but I don't really have life either.
invalidusernam3
give me some please...
Jarjarthejedi
Large savings account for a rainy day? Used to this sort of thing so planned ahead?
G1ngerBoy
People who actually save money instead of just spending it
Iamameancommenter
Bro I went back to school to finish up my degree I am on month 10 out of 12. Got a 2k a month overhead (just bills).
Iamameancommenter
Haven't worked in 10 months haha
itsimpossibletofindausernamethatisnttaken
I've lived on my own for 6 years, never made more then 28k in a year. If I had to I could probably stretch my savings for about 5 months
itsimpossibletofindausernamethatisnttaken
VAST majority of people I know see $200 extra dollars at end of pay period and say "look, $200 I can spend". Silly mentality.
jjm152
I have an entire years worth of pay in a mortgage offset account and more I can access by liquefying stocks and bonds. I'm not rich. I save.
mikmeh
People who have a Grandma's rainy day fund, 3-6 months expenses saved.
dekket
In Sweden, they would have been forced into bankruptcy by now. You don't have laws like that in Germany of all places?..
akeean
If they are out of money and hide/delay the fact, this would be a criminal offense of managment in Germany.
Feralkyn
Ehh, in Germany they HAVE to pay, there's employment contracts. Not sure if this post is a lie meant to defame the corp or the company is
Feralkyn
breaking the law but yeah it's not a German thing.
UpvoteSquirrel
they seem pretty good at defaming themselves http://kotaku.com/sources-crytek-not-paying-staff-on-time-ryse-sequel-d-1594967505
SirLantsBojangles
Welp Crytek is about to go bankrupt.
R1ddl3
I wonder what effect this'll have on Star Citizen
babayaega
The heads that developed Cryengine are working at CIG now. Its now unofficially called Star Engine because its so heavily modified.
ShivaTheDestroyerOfWorlds
At this rate hl3 will come out before star citizen
Paracelsush
You can fly a ship around in the star citizen alpha, but you can't beat things with a crowbar in a game that doesn't exist. Who's winning?
zaonce
Well, you can walk over the Borealis (the ship where hl3/hl2ep3 was going to take place) with mods that restore cut content since 2005 or so
babayaega
Star Citizen has zero dependency on Crytek having their shit together. They have their own in-house team of experts now at Frankfurt.
Ihazcheeseburger
Still won't be out before hl3.
babayaega
ok
Abattage
From what I know, SC has basically modified the engine to the point it is almost a separate entity and cry-ployees to back it up.
fatalitywolf
none, they got everything they need to make the game, plus they got a bunch of EX CRYTEK devs in a studio in frankfurt
spacesimguy
Nothing. Maybe new employees? Star Citizen already owns the code it needs to complete the game.
babayaega
I sent a message to OP to look up ex-colleagues working at Frankfurt. They just expanded offices so they are definitely looking for people.
R1ddl3
Do they? They're using CryEngine.
spacesimguy
Yes, I'm aware of that. They have full access to the CryEngine that they need to finish the game.
R1ddl3
How does that work though? Did they purchase permanent licensing rights or something? There wouldn't be any issues if Crytek went under?
Katalliaan
They also opened a Frankfurt office and snagged a bunch of the devs who wrote the engine in the first place the last time Crytek had trouble
thenameiwanted
They have the rights to use what they need but they've heavily modified it so much that it barely resembles CryEngine at this point.
Superspeed
a very heavily modified version of it
babayaega
Star Engine now I believe.
phoenixsphinx
We have strict labor laws in Germany. Why are u posting instead of getting help of a labor lawyer
Feralkyn
Yuppers, you should have a contract to work here and it should have pretty strict stipulations
hotroddadbod
The law is "work sets you free"
Zokalwe
.... oh god.
username12345678
Here in Canada if my wages are a week late I go to the labour board. It's unacceptable.
tarzannie
Unless you work for the government of Canada... google Phoenix pay system
dfrnz
I don't understandwhy this isn't a massive issue in the news.
tarzannie
I've noticed CBC reporting it. People have lost their houses over this. And it's really sad to see in my work.
asdfwasalreadytaken
Sorry
Pootisborn
Because that won't get him to the font page.
JoeinCanada
That's what I told the guy. I am surprised too. I'm always shocked at how ignorant people are of their legal employment rights.
iDrinkDrano
Who would have taught them?
DrYoloMcSwagmasterIIIEsq
As long as they're functional adults, they should be responsible for knowing their own rights.
iDrinkDrano
Should be, but not all are because if you're not in it you don't know you don't know it, which is why education should encourage it more.
RiceCatBOI
You don't know what you don't know
JoeinCanada
In Canada our Department of Labour has websites with information. There is information pamphlets at local libraries. There are books/1
27yoUGLYvirgin
You need someone to tell you that in a western country it's illegal not to pay your salary? Really?
JoeinCanada
On labour law in Canada written for workers. As the other poster said, it's part of being an adult. Know your rights or lose them.
mmurrbles
Holy fucking entitlement. No one is going to hand you shit in the real would you have to do the leg work yourself.
TheDunnoWhatIsWhat
Which studio? Sofia? At Frankfurt we have "only" 2,5 half months late... #ifeelyabrah
erischilde
Bro how do you live that long without income? How do you stand a ceo that says "choose to live financially tight situation"?
gargaj
Either contractual obligation or plain old love of the job - it's game development, people go into it for their love for games.
gargaj
It does say "here in Germany".
karmaslap
Foundry 42, Star Citizen. i think they are hiring.
karmaslap
(in frankfurt)
TheDunnoWhatIsWhat
If Sofia, did they even told you they're trying to sell the whole studio and game with people included? Without any success ofc...
StarPine
I am sorry about Star Citizen Commando :(
babayaega
Star Citizen has nothing to do with Crytek. Not for a while now.
StarPine
mhm
babayaega
From this recent thing they are getting even more devs and getting the original Crytek procedural team back together at CIG.
viciousviking
You get paid to work. You work to get paid. That's a HUGE violation they're looking at
Sublime1981
The longer they work for nothing the less pity I have. They aren't paying you? Uh, stop doing work....
Nukeshi
Not working = getting fired.
Sublime1981
and that matters why if they aren't paying you?
Sublime1981
Like seriously, are you retarded? They aren't paying. Its like being fired but still doing work.
Nukeshi
If you stop working you voluntarily quit your job. But whatever, not gonna try talking to someone that wants to act like an asshole.
UpvoteSquirrel
They get away with it every time. The games industry can be really bullshit because none of us can afford legal action. So they get away.
mmurrbles
If your in the US you don't even need to get legal help just contact the labor board.
Lockerd
Find some lawyers, in some cases like this one, theyd go probono if its strong enough
Sublime1981
Then stop doing free work. What the fuck is wrong with you people?
UpvoteSquirrel
A lot of the time its because you don't realise you're doing free work. They're still paying you, but its 1/2 of what was promised.
Sublime1981
Then on that first shady ass paycheck you tell them to get bent. Sometimes I wish I got into game development, I guess I should be 1/2
Sublime1981
happy developing software for home dialysis machines. I get paid bank and just got my christmas bonus :).
UpvoteSquirrel
the result is that you're not paid for the 6 months of work you did for that year, you earned 1/2 of what you should have.
Sublime1981
Im not understanding why you stand for it the first time they screw you. Is it just because it's game dev?
UpvoteSquirrel
Lot of the time its because you worked really hard to get the job in the first place and you "trust" your bosses to pay eventually.
ministryofpeace
If it ends up legal, no workers will ever see any money.
hellofahat
That's not entirely true.
ministryofpeace
They'll get the remnants after the lawyers take the lions share
Liquidbullets
Or the company will declare bankruptcy and close down, then just reform under a new name.
ChronoKing
if they do that, all the assests are liquidized and given to plaintiffs
HEXADECIMAL
If they're in the US, HR Execs could end up doing time unless they're all subcontractors. Employee labor laws are pretty specific.
mkalte666
In germany NO work is unpayed - by law. So as soon as some form of employment happens they HAVE to pay you
Camelspotting
Not true, they'll get $12.75 like every class action suit.
LordNoodles
I only got $3.50. Or $0.83
SteevyT
And that's about when I realized it wasn't LordNoodles I was talking to, but a 35 foot tall monster from the paleolithic era.
thestep90
Loch Ness monster trying to get my $3.50