In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, GameStop manages to paint itself in a bad light for the second time this week by announcing that they simply refuse to pay employees any kind of compensation or security during the lockdown.
While the decision is somewhat morally questionable, there is a tinge of irony as this announcement comes only a single day after they instructed their employees to ignore the state-wide lockdown order.
In a letter to store management for their California locations (which was quickly leaked to Kotaku), GameStop announced that they are “closing all stores in California,” which will remain “in effect until further notice.”
This decision comes after the Governor of California issued an executive order that instructed all Californians to self-quarantine at their residence. As a means to combat the further spread of the virus, many states joined California in putting a stop to all non-essential retail, with essential businesses including grocery stores and pharmacies that would stay open – allowing citizens to restock on life-goods.
Ironically enough, GameStop’s original decision to ignore the lockdown was something they quickly defended by trying to claim that they are a part of the essential retail category.
However, while the continuation of business is a desire that’s easily understood, GameStop has once again come into the line of fire for how poorly they’ve handled the spreading pandemic. From being slow on enforcing distancing practices to not helping employees find that extra bit of financial security amidst the ongoing crisis – the company’s response was undoubtedly subpar.
