IGN Union Work to Rule Action Begins After Latest Layoffs
The IGN union work to rule campaign is now underway, and if you’re a regular reader of the gaming news site, you’re going to notice some changes over the next six months. The IGN Creators Guild announced this action immediately after parent company Ziff Davis laid off eight staff members, representing about 12% of the union.
This isn’t a traditional strike where employees walk off the job. Instead, it’s something called “work-to-rule” – a strategy where workers do exactly what their contracts require, nothing more and nothing less. For a news organization that relies heavily on staff going above and beyond, this approach sends a clear message.
What Work-to-Rule Means for IGN Coverage
The IGN union work to rule period will run until February 13, 2026, and readers should expect these specific changes:
- Late-night news coverage – Breaking news that drops after hours won’t get covered until the next business day
- Slower review publication – Reviews will take longer since every editing step must happen during scheduled work hours
- Limited live event coverage – Only staff actually scheduled to work will cover gaming events and conferences
- No after-hours Slack monitoring – Staff won’t be checking work messages outside their contracted hours
- Strict approval processes – Every workplace rule and approval process will be followed to the letter
The Real Story Behind the Union Action
This move comes after a pattern that’s become all too familiar in games media. When companies lay off employees, the work doesn’t disappear – it gets dumped on whoever’s left. The union made their frustration crystal clear: “Ziff Davis and IGN routinely decide that work done by our laid off colleagues is not important. But inevitably, that crucial work falls onto those who remain. Not this time. Not anymore.”
Tyler Robertson, IGN’s social media coordinator and union secretary, explained the situation to Aftermath: “Every time [layoffs] happen, [management] says we’re going to do less. That never actually happens. We always do the same amount of work, just with less people.”
The numbers tell the story. IGN staff report working longer hours than before, skipping lunch breaks, and rarely taking adequate time off because there’s nobody to pick up the slack. Some employees are doing work they were never hired to do in the first place.
Why This IGN Union Work to Rule Strategy Could Work
Work-to-rule has a proven track record in other industries. Teachers in England and Wales used this tactic successfully between 2012 and 2013, refusing to work unpaid overtime or handle non-teaching duties. NHS nurses have also favored this approach because it sends a clear message without compromising patient safety.
The IGN union has negotiated a six-month recall list, which means if the company wants to fill any eliminated roles within that timeframe, they must offer those positions to the laid-off employees first. This prevents the common corporate trick of firing people only to hire cheaper replacements shortly after.
| What Staff Will Do | What Staff Won’t Do |
|---|---|
| Work their exact contracted hours | Check Slack after hours |
| Follow every approval process | Rush through legal reviews |
| Take proper lunch breaks | Skip time off due to understaffing |
| Do their assigned job duties | Take on extra work from laid-off colleagues |
The Bigger Picture for Games Media
The IGN union work to rule campaign happens during a particularly brutal time for games journalism. Major outlets have been cutting staff throughout 2024, with writers, video producers, and editors losing their jobs across the industry. Despite Ziff Davis reporting strong financials, management still decided to engage in what the union calls “ritual bloodletting.”
This follows previous rounds of layoffs and buyouts at IGN that saw talented senior staff leave. Each time, the remaining employees absorbed more work without additional compensation or support.
Reader Impact and Industry Response
For IGN readers, this means accepting that some coverage might be delayed or limited. But the union hopes this temporary inconvenience will lead to long-term improvements. As Robertson put it: “If we stop that from happening this time and really say we are not picking up the slack that you have created, hopefully that convinces them that, yeah, we did actually need those people.”
The gaming community has largely supported the union’s stance, understanding that better working conditions lead to better journalism. Many readers have expressed frustration with the endless cycle of layoffs followed by decreased quality coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is work-to-rule and how is it different from a strike?
Work-to-rule means employees follow their job contracts exactly without going above and beyond. Unlike a strike where workers don’t show up, employees continue working but only do what they’re contractually required to do.
How long will the IGN union work to rule period last?
The campaign runs for six months, ending on February 13, 2026. This gives both sides time to negotiate and potentially resolve the underlying staffing issues.
Will IGN still publish reviews and news during this period?
Yes, IGN will continue normal operations, but coverage may be slower or more limited. Reviews might take longer to publish, and breaking news outside business hours won’t be covered immediately.
What triggered this union action at IGN?
The immediate trigger was Ziff Davis laying off eight IGN staff members (12% of the union) while expecting remaining employees to absorb their work without additional support or compensation.
Has IGN management responded to the work-to-rule campaign?
Management has not made any public statements about the union action. Communication from Ziff Davis to employees has reportedly been limited to surface-level messages about taking time if needed after layoffs.
Could laid-off IGN employees return during this period?
Yes, the union negotiated a six-month recall list. If IGN wants to fill any eliminated roles within six months, they must first offer those positions to the laid-off employees.
Will this affect IGN’s video content and podcasts?
Video production and podcast recording will likely see similar impacts – content that requires after-hours work or rushing through approval processes may be delayed or limited during the work-to-rule period.
Looking Forward
The IGN union work to rule campaign represents a crucial test for both labor organizing in games media and the sustainability of current industry practices. If successful, it could encourage other newsroom unions to take similar stands against the endless cycle of layoffs and increased workloads.
For readers, the next six months offer a real-world demonstration of just how much unpaid overtime and extra work goes into producing the gaming coverage we consume daily. Whether this leads to meaningful change depends largely on how much pressure the work-to-rule action creates and whether management recognizes the true cost of their staffing decisions.