WRUP: Planking into unemployment

by Alexander Sliwinski on Jul 22nd 2011 11:30PM

Little did we know "planking" was grounds for firing from the GameStop corporate family. John Mazzocchi went planking for a moment last weekend and now finds himself unemployed after five years of service - turns out the the co-worker that took the photo was also canned. His planking tweet went up the GameStop corporate food chain and came back down with a pink slip.

A sad story.

What's everyone playing? 'Cause you best not be planking if you value your job!

Alexander Sliwinski (@XanderSliwinski): Gotta fix that Bastion.
Ben Gilbert (@BigBossBgilbert): Ludwig's review pushed me over the edge, so I'm gonna have to pick up Bastion, it seems. And one Mr. Hoops McElroy was nice enough to pass along his preview code for Resistance 3, so I'm gonna try and see the magic he saw. It's an inspired weekend, apparently!
Christopher Grant (@ChrisGrant): Finished Black Ops this week; almost done with Shadows of the Damned (TASTE MY BIG BONER!); and then it's onto L.A. Noire and, hopefully, some Bastion.
David Hinkle (@DaveHinkle): I could list a bunch of games but, in all honesty, I'll probably just play a bunch of Mortal Kombat.
Griffin McElroy (@griffinmcelroy): I just bought Civilization V, so I guess I'll see you guys in a month or so.
JC Fletcher (@jcfletcher): Mega Man Legends.
Jess Conditt (@JessConditt): Rent is due soon, so I'll be playing the fiddle, on street corners, nowhere near Comic-Con.
Jordan Mallory (@Jordan_Mallory): I met a girl named Catherine recently, I think I'll be spending the weekend with her. She's kinda weird, but so far we're hitting it off really well!
Justin McElroy (@JustinMcElroy): The only game I'm aware of existing is Pig Up.
Ludwig Kietzmann (@LudwigK): Deus Ex. Oh, no, not the new one. I just think it's time to replay a creaky classic.
Mike Schramm (@MikeSchramm): I'm at the San Diego Comic Con, and I'm hankering for a good old fashioned in-person tabletop game, so I'm hoping to snag some Munchkin, D&D, or Magic: The Gathering time before I leave here.
Richard Mitchell (@SenseiRAM) "The Kid picked up Bastion that week, and intended to put as many hours into as he could. He also bought a CDX, so he'll play lots of Sonic CD to make sure the thing ain't busted."
Steven Wong: I may kick back with some Old World Blues this weekend.

Tags: what-are-you-playing, wrup

Reader Comments (250)

that seems kinda harsh, they could have at least given a warning. what happened to 3 strikes your out?

@ChronoSapien
This could have been his last strike. =P

@ChronoSapien He could have damaged goods within the store or himself which could potentially damage the companies insurance. Also I'm sure the higher ups don't want people to think that they tolerate their employees acting so stupid. Not to mention they clearly weren't doing what they were paid for while they were literally: lying on the job.

@trinica Even if that was the case, they fired the guy taking the picture. It's hard to believe that both were on such thin ice.

@The Blank Mage Returns
Two trouble-making friends perhaps? Not that unbelievable really.

@ChronoSapien I'd fire them both too.

@stiqlol i'm not saying they weren't in the wrong, but at the same time it was pretty harsh. idk i believe in second chances, probation or something it just seems cold how they went about it

@trinica

They didn't deserve this. As someone who knows them and knows that store in particular, it's worth at least a first and final.

Most people who get fired for something usually it happens on good intentions. Tell me, has anyone ever gotten fired on purpose?

@ChronoSapien I agree. This just may have been the plank that broke the horizontal-human-carrying camel's back for me ever considering the game I buy a year there.

@AntsPai
I wouldn't really say he was lying, more like hovering.

@ChronoSapien

I'm going to open a business just so I can fire people that plank.

@ChronoSapien

This is little different than a tale I was told by an old manager of mine. About a group of employees who one day decided to have a squirt gun fight with cleaning products .... no one was hurt but there was risk of serious injury had someone gotten sprayed in the eyes.

Needless to say they were all let go and with good reason.

This like that could have lead to serious personal injury and or real property damage for the company. Not to mention the decent chance of a slew of lawsuits from said resulting possibilities had they happened.

@ChronoSapien
It's most likely because of the posting to social media sites. Mixing photos of work with social media is the express lane to unemployment-ville.

@YourMomsLover I agree totally. It should be totally legit to fire people for being chronic idiots, anyway. And catching an employee 'planking' is basically the loophole that cheerfully allows for said firing.

"don't want people to think that they tolerate their employees acting so stupid"

Have you ever been to gamestop?

@Deftinwolf
As someone else that knows them and the situation they did deserve it, all personal feeling aside, i know maz knows how to do his job and from what ive heard hes done it well. but Gamestop is a business and as much as the employees should enjoy their jobs and have fun there is a line that you dont cross(at least during store hours) and he crossed it, i feel that the person taking the picture being fired was a little harsh but i understand it because he didnt do anything to stop it. honestly if he did this and didnt show anyone this wouldnt of mattered but he was stupid about it so he lost his job over something stupid like planking Also think of it from a Store managers view if he didnt handle this properly not only would his store loses credibility but he as a manager would also lose some.

@hcgamer670

planking has to be the dumbest f'ing trend in awhile

I really....really don't understand planking.....Is it just me?

@trinica

"Planking is like parkour for people who can't move fast."

@The Blank Mage Returns - I......No.....Yes....

Yes. That is exactly what it is.

@The Blank Mage Returns
More like it's like parkour for the idiots and the lazy...

Well, first of all as employees they are well aware that taking pictures in store is cause for termination...posting the picture just makes that worse, plus it's a safety concern as well I'm sure. All around it was just stupid and as employees they knew this could and probably would happen.

@(Unverified) Taking pictures in the store is cause for termination? Really? I don't understand that at all.

Granted, if the policy is there and known, they're stupid for violating it; but I still don't understand why the policy is there in the first place.

@(Unverified) This, moral of the story, if you have to be stupid, don't be stupid at work... If you have to be stupid at work, certainly don't post evidence on public space

@CyberKnight

Most retail stores have the same policy, it's an attempt at keeping floor plans and marketing stuff from competitors. It's kind of silly but it's there for a reason, walk in an any big name store with a camera some time and start taking pictures and it won't be long until your kindly escorted out of the store... the rules are for everyone, not just employees. And it's certainly NOT just a GameStop thing.

@(Unverified)

No.. it's to make sure we are working and not BSing with co workers...

@themisanthrope

Well, the official line is the marketing thing I said before. Whether or not it's real intent is to keep jackasses working and not...being jackasses is all baseless theory me thinks.

@(Unverified)

Of course I'm certainly not speaking as a current or past employee of GameStop/EBGames cause that would be as stupid as the people fired for this picture. Just speaking as an informed citizen of the internet that this is probably the case. Take it or leave it :)

@(Unverified) At certain times we are allowed to take pictures, for example during midnight release parties if customers show up in costumes or things like that because I've seen pictures of that nature in our employee newsletters and such. I think in this case he was terminated for 'slacking off' as was his friend.

@CyberKnight
most business policies dont permit photography in the store

Ugh..planking is effing stupid..

@K1LLZONE13
Planking is so three month old, owling is the new way for people to make themselves think they're cool, but it's just insanely dumb looking.

@The Cole Train

So a moderately 'tarded forced meme became a profoundly 'tarded forced meme? Thank you, internets!

@The Cole Train

http://owling.com/

hmm...

And this is how stupidity met overreacting.

@QuintonFlynn They made a baby called DRM.

I am going to be playing the "don't support Gamestop in any way and also to continue to point out flaws in their non-existent early-am "security measures" game.

They aren't selling high-end luxury yachts. The fact that they would fire someone for something that otherwise would have probably given them a little more of a light hearted, gamer friendly environment vibe than the corporate monster that they so obviously are.

I used to defend them when they pushed reserves... I think reserves are a great idea for multiple reasons. But back when I was defending this, they also hired people who played games and could really listen and decide which games to recommend based on what you claim to play and like.

Now it is basically:

GS Employee ignores you on entrance, or gives half-assed "How are you today" without looking up from whatever bullshit "title on hand" inventory count ot rearranging of the shelves for different seasons.

You explain to the employee that you have a ton of games and probably have everything in the store that you'd be interested in. You mostly play FPS but love a good RPG now and then.

GS employee sort of listens and says "Yeah. Hey! Have you preordered NFL Puzzle Fighter Party Melee 2012??????"

Seriously, on my word.. I'll never support Gamestop knowingly again. It is very difficult to find a half way decent paying job, let alone one that you really like (even if they pay shite).

@Sabbatai
I'm offended that you think planking is "game friendly" :p

@Sabbatai

so go to a different GS... believe it or not, different people work at different stores.

@Sabbatai

The employees at the GameStops around here are pretty awesome. They call me by name and we stand around and chit chat quite a bit. One recommended Radiant Historia since I love me some DS RPGs, he even let me try it on his 3DS before I bought it.

Just depends on where you live and whatnot I suppose.

@Sabbatai Obviously the store you go to is terrible. We're supposed to be nice and chat up the customers, but not everyone is good at that. I know some stores don't always hire gamers, there's one near me where the manager is this old lady who's never even played a game in her life nor does she know what the hell she's talking about, but it's pretty stupid of you to generalize and assume every store is like that.

@LENSconcept And this would help my "not supporting Gamestop over the firing of an employee who deserved at worst a write up"...how?

Believe it or not all Gamestops are owned by Gamestop.

@kiokushitaka I didn't generalize or say that they were all like that. I said it is "basically like" which is modern shorthand and colloquial way of saying "from my experience".

I am sorry you felt the need to insult me to make your point.

@Sabbatai

As much as these blogs sometimes try and convince you otherwise. Its not that bad and much more personal than the big boxes.

@kiokushitaka

That's because human social interaction is a learned thing - not natural. The more timid / socially awkward people spend interacting, the better they become at it.

We spend so much time 'connected' alone that we're seeing more people that are not good with social interactions. This is a broader spectrum view and will vary depending on your local population.

The EBs I go to are pretty good, employing the odd dork here and there. (by dork I mean socially awkward...c'mon...you know the ones)

@Sabbatai Assuming everyone on the internet understands your regional colloquialisms is also ignorant. Perhaps you should re-read what you're typing before hitting submit? It might help you look less misinformed.

It's clear to me you're not very good at reading comprehension. I wasn't insulting you personally as I don't know you, I was insulting your generalization. And I accused you of generalizing because you did not specify what store you were talking about and instead worded your comment addressing GameStop as a whole. Without saying something like "the GameStop near me" or otherwise specifying that you're aware in some way that not all of the stores are like the one you went to.

tl;dr stop backpedaling and admit you could have worded your argument better.

@Nook I am one of those awkward dorks, believe me I know how hard it is to talk to people. When I get a new job anywhere it takes me months to warm up to the clientele and learn how to interact, longer than it seems to take the natural born salesman type. I have nothing against the awkward people, being one myself, I was just speaking as a current GS employee and saying this is how the company thinks we should all act.

Prolly because he violated safety agreement or something, he was an insurance liability etc.. Sadly if they didn't fire these guys then others might think it's a good idea and one would end up hurt.

Still, planking is lame

@AntsPai

Actually, if I had to guess, I'd say he was fired because he was taking pictures in the store. Oddly enough, most corporate businesses don't allow cameras for one reason or another.

That, combined with the fact that he was being an idiot.

I'm still working my way through Enchanted Arms for the PS3, Tales of the World for the PSP, and Muramasa: The Demon Blade for the Wii.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLfAtCbE_Jc

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WRUP: Planking into unemployment

Reader Comments (250)

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:35PM ChronoSapien said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:37PM trinica said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:47PM AntsPai said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:50PM The Blank Mage Returns said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:56PM trinica said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 12:20AM SirUrza said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 12:42AM ChronoSapien said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 2:42AM Deftinwolf said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 2:43AM MentalMystic said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 4:14AM mcnichoj said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 5:10AM Haizeus said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 8:35AM Scuffles said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 9:02AM aristokrat said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 12:49PM Azules said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 2:16PM snapekillsdumbledore said

Posted: Jul 24th 2011 12:02AM hcgamer670 said

Posted: Jul 25th 2011 12:14PM ThePunisher138 said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:37PM trinica said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:47PM The Blank Mage Returns said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 12:57AM BananaBoat said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 6:03AM cstrife999 said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:39PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:42PM CyberKnight said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:43PM AntsPai said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:46PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:51PM themisanthrope said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:55PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 12:01AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 1:27AM kiokushitaka said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 8:19AM Teus said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:39PM K1LLZONE13 said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 12:28AM The Cole Train said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 1:09AM freaparn said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 6:13AM Tendofreak said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:40PM QuintonFlynn said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 1:03AM agneumeyer said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:41PM Sabbatai said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 12:33AM Irvine032188 said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 12:38AM LENSconcept said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 1:17AM SilentProtagonist said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 1:30AM kiokushitaka said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 4:51AM Sabbatai said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 4:53AM Sabbatai said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 9:41AM Maximo said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 11:21AM Nook said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 7:37PM kiokushitaka said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 7:41PM kiokushitaka said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:41PM AntsPai said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:52PM Colin said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:41PM FinalFantasyXIIIsucks said

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