Reddit post raises concern after VFX workers are asked to work in office during tier 4 lockdown
Anyone with immediate concerns for their health, safety and welfare is urged to contact the AVU immediately
A post was created on the subreddit r/vfx on Saturday titled VFX Artists: your stance on office working during COVID by a VFX worker concerned that their place of work has required them to commute and work in the London based office, even during the tier 4 restrictions. The post reads as follows:
The reddit member shares their concern over the reasoning for asking staff to return to work in the office, mentioning the studio has been perfectly able to support a WFH (work from home) scheme before but has chosen not to anymore. The unnamed studio places blame on ‘not being efficient’ enough to allow a WFH scheme. The original poster argues that a lot of other studios, including the likes of ILM, have been and continue to WFH. It is worth noting, the AVU recognises many other studios a lot smaller than ILM continue to be working from home successfully.
Replies streamed in to the worried redditor, bringing a wave of support from other redditors, condemning the reasoning and risk the unnamed studio is putting their staff in.
Other VFX Redditors support the original poster, offering their own criticism for the studio requiring their workers to travel in to a tier 4 London and work in the office, especially as deaths reach almost 1,000 per day. The image above mentions how other studios are successful with their own WFH schemes and sharing tips on how their own studio is making WFH work.
Another Redditor mentions that it is a lack of trust or a justification to micromanage their workers being the real reason behind being forced to work in the office. The redditor urges the original poster to put their own health ahead of the studio and to look for work elsewhere.
We strongly don’t encourage anyone to do anything that will get themselves fired… of course, but another redditor urges the original poster to look for other work, mentioning the health is more important and that the unnamed studio is putting them in danger.
Follow the post further here.
How the AVU can help people like this?
We find it a shame that VFX and animation workers still feel that turning to reddit instead of a union is the better way to fight injustices against this fantastic hard working community of talented professionals. We don’t want people to feel that anyone is on their own and that the industry cannot be made a better and safer place.
We might be a small committee, but we are you. We are a committee of visual effects and animation professionals who experience the exact same things as you. All we need is you too.
We urge anyone who feels like they’re being put in harm’s way for the sake of a project deadline, anyone who feels they might be being bullied into staying late (or just being bullied), anyone who feels they are being vastly underpaid and underappreciated to consider joining the AVU. If you aren’t sure about joining then get in touch and ask some questions!
Remember, the AVU is run by VFX and animation professionals for VFX and animation professionals. We just so happen to have a behemoth media and entertainment union behind us with all the legal advice possible to protect each and every one of us.
Anyone with immediate concerns for their health, safety and welfare is urged to contact the AVU immediately