Veteran publisher Team17 found itself in the spotlight recently due to its aborted plans to create a series of NFTs based on the Worms franchise, and this increased exposure has led to a scathing report on the working environment and business practices at the firm.
The thorough and enlightening report by Eurogamer unearths stories of poor pay, overworked staff and low morale, as well as a critical portrayal of Team17 boss, Debbie Bestwick. Eurogamer spoke to several past and present Team17 staffers, who understandably chose to remain anonymous to protect their careers and future prospects.
On the topic of NFTs, it has become clear that many people at the studio were opposed to the idea but were not consulted until the announcement was made. When concerns were voiced, staff (referred to internally as 'Teamsters') were told that sharing any negativity on social media could result in action being taken:
While Team17 cannot control what Teamsters publish on their social media or other public-facing channels, please be mindful that as an employee of Team17 you are a representative of the company and its reputation. Criticising or embarrassing Team17, its contractual partners, or fellow Teamsters in a public forum could be cause for disciplinary action.
One staffer said that no apology was made when the scheme was mothballed:
...the managers were doing something so monumentally stupid without a thought for those who would actually bear the brunt of it. They didn't apologise to staff, even the community managers who were subjected to a barrage of abuse because of it.
Elsewhere in the report, QA pay is singled out as being "terrible" at Team17 and there are cases where the contribution of the QA teams has been downplayed or even ignored. The company's annual bonus scheme also comes under fire; last year's bonuses were cut – by more than £1000, in some cases – despite Team17 racking up record profits for the first half of 2021.
In Team17's Nottingham office, staff have told Eurogamer that they "do not have faith in the company's current HR team" and highlight times when it has failed to act on issues such as sexual harassment. "Staff have recalled incidents where women at the studio were sent degrading messages and suggestive photos by male colleagues, which were reported to HR," Eurogamer's report adds. "The response, they say, was that these incidents were minimised, perpetrators given a slap on the wrist, and victims told to sort it out amongst themselves."
Team17's group CEO Debbie Bestwick is singled out in the report. She's one of the richest people in the UK games industry with a personal wealth of approximately £200 million. Last year, when the aforementioned bonuses were cut, she reportedly came home with a staggering £7.56 million ($10.24 million). Several staff members told Eurogamer that Bestwick is "not shy of discussing aspects of her wealth on social media and in the studio's open-plan office" and has been described as "formidable" and not someone who is capable of taking criticism on board.
One staffer said:
Things are going to get missed if you are that overworked, and when they are missed, you're going to be called up by Debbie. It is humiliating at times because your hand is forced - you have bugger all budget, you have too many games, and then you're sat in a meeting being asked 'why the hell did this game not meet our expectations?' It can be a very pointed thing. It's not unheard of for people to go out of those meetings crying, which at a workplace is shameful.
Keeping on the topic of Team17's CEO, the day after the ill-fated Worms NFT announcement, Bestwick posted a rebuttal of those who had dared criticise the project via her personal Facebook account – a post which, along with Eurogamer, we have seen ourselves. Bestwick was "shocked" at the negative reaction and said, "I dare anyone to question my ethics tbh!"
One staffer told Eurogamer:
Debbie posts so many things about being a woman in the games industry on Twitter, and yet harassment is going on in her company and people are being told, essentially, it hasn't happened. There's no way she hasn't seen people complaining about their wages - people who maybe can't afford to turn their heating on, have three meals a day. I've got friends who had, during the pandemic, a leak in their flat - and they had to get a second job. It's the same stories which come out over and over again and - nothing. Is she truly unaware, is no one telling her? Or does she just not care?
Team17 has responded to Eurogamer's report, saying:
Team17 Digital takes its responsibilities to its staff extremely seriously. We constantly review our internal policies and practises and assess how we support our employees through our engagement survey and through direct dialogue with the team, including newly-established employee-led working groups. This encompasses compensation, workplace culture and environment, among other key areas, to continually strive to improve our employee experience. In January, as part of this, we announced new improvements to the way we pay and reward our Teamsters. We care passionately about our Teamsters and our aim is to ensure they feel connected, valued and have a sense of belonging and purpose, and that they continue to be proud of Team17 and the products we develop and publish.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 53
well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised then
dang, it's almost as if trying to actively invest in a pyramid scheme to scam people out of their money means you don't have that many morals, making it so you treat your employees like cattle
Jeez, clicked into the eurogamer article for more details and how do people even afford food and housing on the salary they're being paid there? That'd be well below what's considered poverty level wages around here.
Was the new way they pay and reward their workers that they announced in January to cut everyone's bonuses? Apparently no one met the criteria of this new way, even the big boss only got close to 8 million. She usually gets 10.
To Hell with companies that create these environments. Not just in the gaming industry, but everywhere. Folks like Debbie have no place in leadership.
Teamsters?! F****** TEAMSTERS?! Aiyaiyai.... This entire thing is a bloody disaster.
Absolutely horrible stuff. Of course people like her are that rich though, it’s as if you get rewarded for causing as much human suffering as possible.
I've found that, good management and leadership is key.
I work for a great company that rewards loyalty and hard work. I started as a floor worker at a die cast manufacturer through a temp agency, and in 4 years was a CMM programmer, now I'm in charge of the metrology lab and calibration dept.
I've had some bad bosses, and some good ones, but the company's policies have helped me rise rank through it all.
Having crap leadership sucks.
This was a very tonedeaf and insufferable announcement by them concerning NFTs, so it certainly shows a lack of competence in their leadership. We are talking about a company whose standout title is Worms, WORMS! It was popular in 1999, nobody cares about this IP in 2022, and they think they've got the ecosystem to support NFTs. No, it was just a cash grab, and everyone knows it.
The harassment thing is serious. I get that. But ... some of this seems groundless. People complaining about bonuses? Companies don't have to give bonuses, and many don't. Bonuses are a fringe benefit, not a right.
And there was no apology when the NFT plan was shelved? Why did the workers need an apology because the company canceled an initiative?
an article blowing up about NFTs with not one sentence about why these employees hate them or what the online bully hate towards them is. Sorry but an article shouldn't assume all readers are on some same groupthink wavelength
Removed - flaming/arguing
@ChakraStomps Ironically, the only people that I ever see throw around the term "groupthink" are nftbros. Might want to look at your own groupthink first.
I don't know if there were problems with QA/poor pay back in the days of worms world party, armageddon, etc. But those games were buggy pieces of crap, IMO. I could never get a team17 worms game to work properly. Though maybe it was also partially Windows 98 or ME's issue .
And yes I will question any leaders' ethics who instantly jump on the NFT bandwagon, without using it to offer gamers useful things such as selling their own games.
Honestly, how can she be surprised at the negative reaction.. is a leader at the company that out of touch with their audience / the current ill-will surrounding NFT's?
@Burning_Spear Bonuses can definitely be pretty scummy. My dad has worked most his life in coal plants, which as you can imagine is a very physically laborious job. They would get end-of-year bonuses if no one had an accident. In other words, they didn't want to be held liable for work-related injuries, so you and all your coworkers were actively punished for getting hurt. An incredibly gross practice, if you ask me. The company went bankrupt after some bad investments and then refused to pay workers their due compensation for their last two weeks of work. There were a bunch of protests including blocking the railroad tracks, but my dad didn't take part because he doesn't believe in civil disobedience. He did testify against them in court, though.
@Zebetite groupthink been around a long time, you might have limited experiences in life which may explain your take on it being some niche term. Regardless my categorization the article does a disservice to basic journalism to not include a short paragraph to why the uproar. The article assumes every reader is against NFTs with no further discussion.. aka groupthink
@Matroska Brainwashed? For stating that an article about an uproar should give a basic description explaining the uproar? Funny you call me brainwashed while being a posterchild of groupthink with that attitude. All I said and it would go the other way too if this was an article that was 100% for NFTs without explaining any reason to love them, is to just state the ire in question on the uproar. Basic jouranlism. Unless you are preaching to a choir, aka groupthink
@Burning_Spear I dunno, the bonuses one I might agree with you on if they weren't paying people wages just below the poverty line, and at a rate around half that of comprable positions, with the difference made up by the bonus.
@Zebetite it's because their entire platform is built on buzzwords.
Another company treats their staff like crap. I can't say I'm surprised. Every company I've worked for treats their staff like cattle.
@JaxonH I just want to point out that that’s friggin fantastic, and I’m happy for you. Good jobs rule. I work in a retail distribution center and two of my warehouse leads started as temps and one of my operations managers started as a regular floor worker, and that’s just in my department/shift. Plus I was offered a chance to start moving up after five months as a floor worker.
"Team17 Digital takes its responsibilities to its staff extremely seriously. We constantly review our internal policies and practises and assess how we support our employees through our engagement survey.."
Unless this is handled by an unbiased third party, I shan't believe a word.
@Burning_Spear You're right about bonuses not being mandatory, but it does suck to have that taken away for no reason. I worked for a company that used to give relatively small but very appreciated Christmas bonuses, we got bought by another company who didn't do that so they stopped. It absolutely was their right to do that of course but it did catch a lot of people off guard and obviously people weren't thrilled about it. But thankfully nobody was reliant on those bonuses, it sounds like that is very much not the case at Team17, which is a bad situation to let happen.
Reading Eurogamer those wages are insanely low. And you might be thinking why don't they just go elsewhere if they can get 10k more at another job but not everyone is able too just up and move, there can be all manner of extenuating circumstances that restrict people in that regard. I don't know if you read Eurogamer but it was raised that some staff were skipping meals they couldn't afford or coming to the office during lockdown as they couldn't pay their home bills if they were there. Not to mention it also reads very much like they assign bonuses based on the overworking of staff, which is a very shady practice.
As for the apologies, it's not because it was a cancelled initiative. It's because they dropped a super controversial hot mess into the unsuspecting laps of the community teams who them had to bear the brunt of the collective internet's hatred. Which is not their job. I can't think of a super accurate comparison but it's kind of like sending someone out to model your new shirt you know might attract a swarm of wasps but not giving them any warning of that. Then when they come back in covered in wasp stings just putting the shirt away and walking off without saying anything. Pretty sure if you were in that shirt you'd want an apology.
"Debbie posts so many things about being a woman in the games industry on Twitter" Terrible people are terrible people, no matter who or what they want to portray
@Burning_Spear "And there was no apology when the NFT plan was shelved? Why did the workers need an apology because the company canceled an initiative?" Because employees received all the internet rage and harassment when it should've been aimed at the bosses?
Another day, another story about another games company with another bunch of allegedly awful working conditions.
It seems to be epidemic and it's never out of the mainstream, non-games media at the moment either, which is sad. Companies need to start thinking more about how low staff morale reflects on the industry and our hobby as a whole. Talented people are going to walk away from the industry if games firms don't stop making the same mistakes.
I've been a professional programmer for over two decades, and everyone I've worked with over the years have always said the samething... do NOT go to work in the gaming industry unless you want to be overworked, grossly under paid, and get little to nothing out of the success that sometimes comes along for a well received release.
Seriously. Stop glorifying the gaming industry. It's sweatshop work that makes billions for those at the top at the expense of those that actually do all the work.
I love my career, but the only way I will ever jump in to the gaming industry is if I make a game independently for myself.
Power corruption isn't limited to men but sometimes women become that part of the corruption. And to blame the employees for the CEO doing that's low balling the wrong people.
Seriously though... can employees not go to reporters with their issues about a company. Especially if they're still working there and are doing it secretly because they're "fearful of losing their job". If you don't like the place you're working at. Leave. It's the best and easiest way to show a manager you're unhappy. Rather than trashing the whole company and potentially destroying everyone else's job as well as your own. It's incredibly selfish and is not going to make anyone's situation better. Like I'm sorry if the situation is bad and I get that you want to share it. But this just makes things unpleasant for everyone. It's like having a mole in a spy organisation. Like seriously, why do it this way? Does anyone actually think this is an appropriate response to being mismanaged?
@PharoneTheGnome a good point about making a game independently. It's the same for Hollywood. I'd much rather work super hard on my own indie film than be a runner on some trash blockbuster. Like... if you join as a lackey, why expect to be director?
@nessisonett Nothing new. Happened for 1000's of years.
Not saying it's acceptable by the way. Just saying I wouldn't personally make that choice.
It's quite short sighted to suggest unhappy employees should 'just leave'. In many cases there are not tons of opportunities in a given field where one lives and uprooting families is not that easy.
Furthermore, human beings should have a right to be treated decently and paid well when they work.
'just leaving' basically impoverishes the victim, the awful company will rehire long before industry word of mouth gets out, creating more victims.
It's actually really powerful to collectively raise a massive stink about poor labour conditions because companies like this despise bad publicity and as consumers are becoming more aware can choose which companies they support.
Don't want stories about crappy management to get out? Treat your staff with respect
I know it's easier said than done, but these employees need to get out of companies with dumpster fire management and terrible pay.
Much of their quotes remind me of a job I had not that long ago. Management was terrible, employees taking the brunt of the work were never consulted with big changes until the last second, but at least the pay was decent. If they're getting paid terribly on top of harassment and bad management, it's sometimes better to be unemployed and looking for a job than miserable while working at a job.
"Criticising or embarrassing Team17 could be cause for disciplinary action".
Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. Embarrassing them?! Employees don't even need to do or say anything when the company and people running it make a complete mockery of themselves. Team17 was already on my blacklist for NFTs, but now they're on it permanently.
@BarryandWill No one is saying it's easy. But it's the equivalent of a friends telling you how awful their job is, what would you do in response to something this bad coming from a friend?
I think most of us would tell them they really need to find a new job. There is absolutely zero redeeming qualities to working there, from the sound of things.
Which is more impactful of a message to stop poor working conditions, anonymous employees complaining while still working there or those same employees quitting and making a public statement as to why they're quitting? Unfortunately, they hold more power than anyone outside of the company to actually detail the wrongdoings.
@JaneBear sadly does happen in too many companies and things like HR aren't much help to employees either only the employer
@Doktor-Mandrake Yeah I know. I guess I’m spoiled where I work.
@ChakraStomps this is a way reductionist look at what this article covers
It would be really easy to walk out of an office to never return if I 1) ever cried at the office or 2) saw anyone crying because of something an upper did. It would be god-tier easy if my job was to work on something as ***** as Worms.
Protip: everyone is hiring right now. You don't have to be abused if you have even a modicum of talent. Leave.
@PharoneTheGnome having worked with a good many top tier programmers over the years - Gaming is the only industry I can think of where programmers are not thought of as absolutely critical pieces of the company and treated with dignity and respect.
When I was in enterprise software they were the ones that called the shots - and if anyone thought about abusing them they would walk in a second and go work for anyone they wanted to.
Moving and resettling is not cheap and you have to factor did you find the home or place you want also nothing is free. People make like you can just move and find new job. I like those with families to tell us the real cost to moving not people whom are couch potatoes and just make snide remarks forgetting there are families behind these peoples that have to be taken into consideration when moving.
@BarryandWill It actually really upsets me that your comment is the one getting all the likes... how did people get brought up to be so full of spite and vengeance?
I refuse to accept that badmouthing people or companies behind their back is okay. There are two sides to every coin, we don't know their side, and this is how people get "cancelled". It's just... unpleasant. Two wrongs don't make a right and all that
Again, not saying mistreatment is okay. But I'm saying that writing to journalists so they can write an article that slanders the company, jeopardising thousands of jobs, is not the way to do it.
I have more of a problem with Team17's ethics than I do their NFT plans. I have no interest in NFT's, but I'm not going to boycott a company over them.. I'm just not going to buy them, and play the game.
@Scapetti perhaps you should be more upset that people are so frightened of speaking out internally that they have to speak out externally under a cover of annonomity.
I am not surprised, seeing the culture of NL comments, but saddened all the same that after reading the article their first thought is to go 'poor Team 17, what can we do to defend the name of their millionaire boss'.
I struggle with the concept that whistleblowing on exploitative working practices is in someway bad.
@BarryandWill it's just about the way it's done... it affects a LOT of people, anyway, this sounds like a political argument so I'm out. Peace
I'm questioning your ethics, Debbie.
The whole 'Teamsters' thing alone seems like the base of an abusive relationship. It's so patronising and degrading.
Are there any decent companies to work for in the games industry???
It makes me sad that my favourite hobby is constantly linked with terrible working practices.
Removed - inappropriate
@ChakraStomps "a commie groupthink"...do you hear yourself?
the article talks about much more than what you commented, that is all i was saying
Sounds like it goes hand in hand, wich isn't surprising. If you as a company go into nft's, the company is already fundamentaly rotten.
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