300 ESO Customer Service Employees Let Go

Oldmanlawlor

timidobserver wrote: »

Junkogen wrote: »

Right before Christmas? Damn, that's cold.

Yeh that is pretty rough. Maybe they are doing it to try to meet some kind of year end goal. That is the only reason I can think of to lay people off right before Christmas.

Though, do the Irish even celebrate Christmas?

Do we celebrate Christmas? Is this a troll?

Oldmanlawlor

?[/quote]

Considering Ireland is considered the most religious country in Europe, together with Poland, I'd wager to say: Yes, they do.[/quote]

I don't know where you're getting this j formation from, but religion is dead in Ireland. The Catholic Church are literally begging people to attend mass. They pass around FOUR collection boxes throughout a mass now. Churches are empty, I've lived in Ireland for all of my 27 years and I can guarantee you; Ireland is Not religious anymore.

OmniDevil

The sky is falling...
The World is ending...
People got let go, ESO is dying...

So much logic in this thread.

@ZOS_GinaBruno can we get a lock on this conspiracy theory thread, please?

JamilaRaj

OmniDevil wrote: »

The sky is falling...
The World is ending...
People got let go, ESO is dying...

So much logic in this thread.

@ZOS_GinaBruno can we get a lock on this conspiracy theory thread, please?

I heard a rumor that @ZOS_GinaBruno was inspecting Galway offices when executions took place and was accidentally sacked too.

Kahl_dur

OmniDevil wrote: »

The sky is falling...
The World is ending...
People got let go, ESO is dying...

So much logic in this thread.

@ZOS_GinaBruno can we get a lock on this conspiracy theory thread, please?

Actually, there was quite a bit of logic in this thread, IMO. I haven't read an inordinate amount of "the sky is falling" posts. Quite the contrary, actually. A lot of posters gave good, solid opinions as to why the lay offs were either necessary or not out of the ordinary (tax considerations, expired contracts, etc.). It's all speculation of course until more information is revealed (if ever), but the positive posts outweigh any negative posts as far as I can see. Just my two Septims.

tinythinker

Dominoid wrote: »

Abeille wrote: »

Can't it be that they were hired on a six-month contracts to help with console releases, and the contracts expired? The console release was around six months ago after all.

It's exactly this. Six month contracts which have expired and weren't renewed. Suck for those involved and the time of year is bad, but these aren't really layoffs.

Not all were contract employees...

But on the other side, the Connacht Tribune understands that in the region of 300 full-time and contract employees have been let go from the European Customer Services Centre in Rahoon on the western side of the city.

It is understood that just five or six employees remain at the premises.

It may or may not have to do with tax breaks, but there was this at the end...

An industry source said: “Around half-a-dozen employees remain, to keep things ticking over, but things have been wound down there. It may be the case that things may pick up again if they have another [game] release.”

- - - - - -

In any case ZOS will lock this thread in a heart beat if it takes a turn that belittles or makes light of the employees let go or turns into a ZOS/Bethesda bashing session.

Draxys

If three freaking hundred CS employees were working at zos before this, what the *** were they doing? Because they sure as hell weren't helping many customers.

JamilaRaj

Kahl_dur wrote: »

OmniDevil wrote: »

The sky is falling...
The World is ending...
People got let go, ESO is dying...

So much logic in this thread.

@ZOS_GinaBruno can we get a lock on this conspiracy theory thread, please?

Actually, there was quite a bit of logic in this thread, IMO. I haven't read an inordinate amount of "the sky is falling" posts. Quite the contrary, actually. A lot of posters gave good, solid opinions as to why the lay offs were either necessary or not out of the ordinary (tax considerations, expired contracts, etc.). It's all speculation of course until more information is revealed (if ever), but the positive posts outweigh any negative posts as far as I can see. Just my two Septims.

Talking about speculations...it occured to me, when $1M stunt was followed with freekend, that the company attempts to improve its numbers before year's end or perhaps flat out value before sale. Layoffs only fit in.

Mujuro

timidobserver wrote: »

Erdmanski wrote: »

Maybe they lost their jobs because they weren't doing them well. Everyone here complains about how bad the customer service is, so maybe this is actually an initiative by ZOS to improve customer service. Perhaps they are moving all customer service to a single location to improve efficiency and improve departmental communication.

A layoff like this doesn't necessarily mean the game is struggling or they are struggling financially.

Normally I would agree, but a layoff before Christmas seems a bit desperate/abrupt. Just for the sake of PR, they would have waited until January/February if it were just improving efficiency. I have actually seen layoffs delayed for this reason.

Often times companies do layoffs right around this time to "clear the books" so to speak for the new fiscal year. While it may foster negative PR, I'm guessing ZOS is contemplating this to be outweighed by balance sheet benefits (and less administrative "hassle").

And while I believe that ZOS, as a whole, is probably doing fine financially in terms of hitting numbers it wants, my guess is that if you take TESO as a "standalone business unit", it's probably not doing as well as they'd like. Not to say TESO isn't profitable -- after all, if TESO was in the red, it'd likely be shut down, and fast -- it's probably just not the cash cow that's buying the execs a new Ferrari this holiday.

Lenikus

terrordactyl1971 wrote: »

Shame they didn't keep that $1million giveaway and use it for salaries to keep staff going.

Not enough cash for that.

But then again, what those people were doing ? was it a specific language customer support? or just IT guys? or what ?
We need more info on this ;P


# Edit.
Also, that one was a dept. that had government financial aid, maybe the gov. just stopped paying and then zeni bailed. Aside from pr, this does not affect the game, or it's services in any relevant bit.

Kammakazi

Merry Zosmas

Lifeshield

Well this bodes well for the game doesn't it?

Just flippin bought it as well, lol.

TERMINAT0R_XVII

It was a 6 month contract and the irish knew it. End of story, no messed up action on ZoS part. The irish well knew when their contracts would end. It wasnt a layoff like the media said. In my experience DONT EVER TRUST THE MEDIA THEY WILL EXAGGERATE A STORY JUST TO GET RATINGS. ZoS was well within their right to release those 300 employees.

Oh and btw to who said ZoS gina was canned, go toss yourself to the Senche lions, Gina wouldnt ever be suddenly canned like that.

Arkadius

TERMINAT0R_XVII wrote: »

It was a 6 month contract and the irish knew it. End of story, no messed up action on ZoS part. The irish well knew when their contracts would end. It wasnt a layoff like the media said. In my experience DONT EVER TRUST THE MEDIA THEY WILL EXAGGERATE A STORY JUST TO GET RATINGS. ZoS was well within their right to release those 300 employees.

Oh and btw to who said ZoS gina was canned, go toss yourself to the Senche lions, Gina wouldnt ever be suddenly canned like that.

Source please.

Tankqull

Lenikus wrote: »

terrordactyl1971 wrote: »

Shame they didn't keep that $1million giveaway and use it for salaries to keep staff going.

Not enough cash for that.

But then again, what those people were doing ? was it a specific language customer support? or just IT guys? or what ?
We need more info on this ;P


# Edit.
Also, that one was a dept. that had government financial aid, maybe the gov. just stopped paying and then zeni bailed. Aside from pr, this does not affect the game, or it's services in any relevant bit.

its the european customer support base, wich is now down to just the forum representives like @ZOS_KaiSchober and alike...
and it does significantly harm the services provided(wich were allready be horrible - 14 days for a simple char reboot), being unable to discuss problems in your mother language is a severe issue... (just imagine you would have to try to communicate with a russian CS or any other language you might not speak at all...)

VincentBlanquin

they are innocent. combat dev should go

Sithisvoid

It was a 6 month contract for console release. Not really a lay off the contract is just up.

Kahl_dur

TERMINAT0R_XVII wrote: »

It was a 6 month contract and the irish knew it. End of story, no messed up action on ZoS part. The irish well knew when their contracts would end. It wasnt a layoff like the media said. In my experience DONT EVER TRUST THE MEDIA THEY WILL EXAGGERATE A STORY JUST TO GET RATINGS. ZoS was well within their right to release those 300 employees.

The regional newspaper that first broke the news (the Connacht Tribune) reports that the 300 employees were a mix of both contract and full-time employees.

Not sure how far in advance the employees knew about this, but I'm sure there was a very good business reason for the closure (doesn't mean the game is in trouble, etc.).

Islyn

That made me feel sick.

In addition to this, the Irish Government helped fund the whole thing in the first place, for more jobs.

I feel like everything that happens is another reason for me to just quit this game and find another obsession.

I just can't even.....


(This has nothing to do with game ending/closing whatever, I don't speculate or even care if it does or doesn't. If it does, oh well. If not, ok.)

Volkodav

Lifeshield wrote: »

Well this bodes well for the game doesn't it?

Just flippin bought it as well, lol.

Has nothing to do with the game. It will go on regardless. Dont pay attention to the doom sayers.ESO aint goin nowhere. :}

Islyn

TERMINAT0R_XVII wrote: »

It was a 6 month contract and the irish knew it. End of story, no messed up action on ZoS part. The irish well knew when their contracts would end. It wasnt a layoff like the media said. In my experience DONT EVER TRUST THE MEDIA THEY WILL EXAGGERATE A STORY JUST TO GET RATINGS. ZoS was well within their right to release those 300 employees.

How does that arithmetic work when it was built in 2011? That's a damn sight more than 6 months.

Source, please.

starlizard70ub17_ESO

terrordactyl1971 wrote: »

So basically, there is now ZERO customer support for European players.

And in what way has this changed from last year, same service, less expense.

Kahl_dur

Sithisvoid wrote: »

It was a 6 month contract for console release. Not really a lay off the contract is just up

The customer service center first opened back in 2011, so I'm not sure if the closure can entirely be the result of 6 month contracts expiring: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-sister-studio-opens-mmog-support-center/1100-6304016/

Maybe a mix of expired contracts, tax savings, corporate reorganization? No one really knows at this point. Regardless, this news doesn't mean the game is in trouble or that the sky is falling.

dlepi24

Rune_Relic wrote: »

We knew this months ago ???
I am sure you can dig up the threads if you hunt for it.

That's what I thought. I was almost certain they announced it quite a while ago before IC even came out I feel like.

Sithisvoid

Kahl_dur wrote: »

Sithisvoid wrote: »

It was a 6 month contract for console release. Not really a lay off the contract is just up

The customer service center first opened back in 2011, so I'm not sure if the closure can entirely be the result of 6 month contracts expiring: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-sister-studio-opens-mmog-support-center/1100-6304016/

Maybe a mix of expired contracts, tax savings, corporate reorganization? No one really knows at this point. Regardless, this news doesn't mean the game is in trouble or that the sky is falling.

Did they close the entire Support center? I thought they just let some of them go

Kahl_dur

Sithisvoid wrote: »

Did they close the entire Support center? I thought they just let some of them go

According to the Irish newspaper that first reported the issue: “Around half-a-dozen employees remain, to keep things ticking over, but things have been wound down there. It may be the case that things may pick up again if they have another [game] release.”

Magdalina

ZOS had 300 people working in customer support?! That's surprising.

JamilaRaj

Kahl_dur wrote: »

Sithisvoid wrote: »

Did they close the entire Support center? I thought they just let some of them go

According to the Irish newspaper that first reported the issue: “Around half-a-dozen employees remain, to keep things ticking over, but things have been wound down there. It may be the case that things may pick up again if they have another [game] release.”

That makes sense. Some had to be kept around to turn off the lights.
Anyway, The Un-laid-off Six shoud get some achievement for survining The Great Galway Christmas Massacre of 2015.

Alucardo

It's tragic, but sometimes businesses do need to make tragic decisions (not backing up what they did obviously). This is also not the proper place to discuss it.
Having said that, I hope those affected still have a wonderful Christmas and find more employment promptly after their holidays.

Buff DK please.

Preyfar

Erdmanski wrote: »

Maybe they lost their jobs because they weren't doing them well. Everyone here complains about how bad the customer service is, so maybe this is actually an initiative by ZOS to improve customer service. Perhaps they are moving all customer service to a single location to improve efficiency and improve departmental communication.

A layoff like this doesn't necessarily mean the game is struggling or they are struggling financially.

Yeah, that's something that bothered me. I reported a player who was exploiting and doing far, far more damage than normal (one-shotting people in Cyrodiil with stupid amounts of damage) and the response I got from CS was "ignore the player". As if, somehow, ignoring the player is going to make their damage go away... <___<

I don't know the specifics, but I do know that CS has gone downhill quite a bit as compared to launch. At launch, I felt like somebody legitimately read each and every ticket. Now it's just a form... I have no idea if my /bug reports or player reports are even given so much as a glance.