Ex-Linus Media Group employee Madison Reeve has posted a thread on social media on the alleged working culture of Linus Media Group, which is currently under fire for accuracy and ethical concerns.
Ex-Linus Tech Tips employee alleges mistreatment and poor conditions: “no one gets a break” - Dexerto::undefined
I don’t see how this surprises anyone. As soon as the handbook was leaked I just knew it was a shit place. Why? Cause I work at a shit place and they do the same shit. Shitty people rip shitty policies and implement them shittily. Linus doesn’t care, he wants profit.
I honestly don’t think he does it on purpose, I honestly think he’s just way over his head for years now, which is why he hired a new CEO and scaled back his position. I mean, who remember a few years ago when he talked about retiring YouTube?
So why can’t employees talk about pay? Thats just an accidental whoopsie? According to the handbook they have to demonetize their channels if they have youtube channels. Guess thats just another accident? No, its malicious squashing of could-be competition while simulteanously putting their positions on a pedestal. Its classic capitalist tactics.
That’s not totally accurate. It was initially a symbiotic relationship. Linus was providing marketing for NCIX as well in the early days. That does not detract from the reality that LTT would be nothing without the early support of NCIX.
There’s pros and cons for that. Some people argue that employees shouldn’t know what each other pay is because it would create an unfair situation. How? Well, one employee might do a much better work or even work more and for that fact the employer might want to give him a raise but not to his colleague that works less.
The other argument is that you can create an unfair environment where the people who work more get the same pay as the ones who work less, leading them to work less since employee doesn’t want/can’t give the raise to both of them.
Thats not a reason for cloak and dagger tactics. If that employee deserves more pay for the skill and effort they put in it should be announced loudly like they hold the Galaga high score at the local arcade. There is no reason to obfuscate pay unless your employer is being dishonest. Like mine is. I live this dude, everyday. Its all a package deal thats easier to spot than santa clause at a strip joint.
This is the worst take on this matter. No, you should be honest. If that upsets people because they aren’t performing you can use that as an opportunity to figure out why they aren’t doing well. This should be a mutually beneficial thing. But because people are salty, and because it feels like (feels like, not is) its easier to just hire a new person and toss the current one this leads to employers opting for the cost of a high turn over and bad feelings all around. Dishonesty only pays if you don’t think about it at all.
Does that occur more happen than abusers who don’t care if they are? I don’t know anyone from LTT personally, but I don’t necessarily get the feeling that Linus doesn’t care. To your point, ignorance doesn’t excuse abuse, but I think it’s an important distinction to make regardless.
This is a valid point because I think it affects openness to change. Linus may be a dumbass in some regards, but I’d be willing to bet he’s open to change.
So much truth. Look at the guy. How is front facing persona is. You know it’s some egomaniac that’s just like fuck you I need more.
It’s funny because publicly, he’s been disapproving of her in photos, chat. Like the look he’s giving her here, urgh.
It honestly sounds like my last job. Unprofessionalism in all its finest with nothing but favouritism, big egos and zero agency or responsibility given. All with endless work in tow. Yup. Good times 🙂🔫
Some people have pointed out, that this seems to be a normal vacation policy within Canada. Still a shitty policy, but I wouldn’t put the majority blame on LMG for this specific issue.
There’s a reason the absolutely majority of businesses isn’t run like that, and it’s not because all people suck.
Two reasons, actually.
These people (who do not suck) often don’t really have what it takes to run a successful business. It’s a hard endeavor, especially in the beginning, and often if you don’t do the bare minimum, you die.
As you grow, having 10 clashing opinions is a paralyzing disaster for a company. Solution is to have a CEO/owner whatever, one voice to rule, but at that point, is it really that co-op you dream about?
Some of this is very boilerplate handbook wording but I gotta say some of these benefits are very average at best, especially the time off situation. This is from the perspective of a US government worker, where I regularly see my friends get hired in the private sector and receive much better time off.
And at least in southern New England, there’s some straight up illegal rules in here, notably discussion of wages. Around here you cannot be ordered by anyone not to disclose what you make.
I think the policy is pretty weak for such a well-loved (up until this week) company. Guess that’s the way the industry works: put up with mediocre pay and benefits because you’re “doing what you love,” or if I’m feeling really jaded I’d say something like “abusing the workers’ passions for the industry.”
I don’t see how this surprises anyone. As soon as the handbook was leaked I just knew it was a shit place. Why? Cause I work at a shit place and they do the same shit. Shitty people rip shitty policies and implement them shittily. Linus doesn’t care, he wants profit.
I honestly don’t think he does it on purpose, I honestly think he’s just way over his head for years now, which is why he hired a new CEO and scaled back his position. I mean, who remember a few years ago when he talked about retiring YouTube?
So why can’t employees talk about pay? Thats just an accidental whoopsie? According to the handbook they have to demonetize their channels if they have youtube channels. Guess thats just another accident? No, its malicious squashing of could-be competition while simulteanously putting their positions on a pedestal. Its classic capitalist tactics.
He’s terrified that his employees are going to do to him, what he did at his last place…
Yep, he basically built his empire off the back of his employer. LTT basically uses NCIX inventory for their early videos.
That’s not totally accurate. It was initially a symbiotic relationship. Linus was providing marketing for NCIX as well in the early days. That does not detract from the reality that LTT would be nothing without the early support of NCIX.
Wasn’t it a win-win situation?
They can’t even say that… law trumps contract. I had to look that up for vancouver, but…
"employers in B.C. cannot dismiss, suspend, demote, discipline or harass an employee who:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/gender-equity/pay-transparency-laws-in-bc
There’s pros and cons for that. Some people argue that employees shouldn’t know what each other pay is because it would create an unfair situation. How? Well, one employee might do a much better work or even work more and for that fact the employer might want to give him a raise but not to his colleague that works less.
The other argument is that you can create an unfair environment where the people who work more get the same pay as the ones who work less, leading them to work less since employee doesn’t want/can’t give the raise to both of them.
Thats not a reason for cloak and dagger tactics. If that employee deserves more pay for the skill and effort they put in it should be announced loudly like they hold the Galaga high score at the local arcade. There is no reason to obfuscate pay unless your employer is being dishonest. Like mine is. I live this dude, everyday. Its all a package deal thats easier to spot than santa clause at a strip joint.
Hello, fellow old person.
If they were actually doing that the ones who doesn’t do anything useful but think they are doing a good job would be mad.
Running a company, leading people is hard. Being honest sometimes is the worst way to go about these matters.
This is the worst take on this matter. No, you should be honest. If that upsets people because they aren’t performing you can use that as an opportunity to figure out why they aren’t doing well. This should be a mutually beneficial thing. But because people are salty, and because it feels like (feels like, not is) its easier to just hire a new person and toss the current one this leads to employers opting for the cost of a high turn over and bad feelings all around. Dishonesty only pays if you don’t think about it at all.
Removed by mod
Abusers often don’t know they are being an abuser.
Does that occur more happen than abusers who don’t care if they are? I don’t know anyone from LTT personally, but I don’t necessarily get the feeling that Linus doesn’t care. To your point, ignorance doesn’t excuse abuse, but I think it’s an important distinction to make regardless.
This is a valid point because I think it affects openness to change. Linus may be a dumbass in some regards, but I’d be willing to bet he’s open to change.
So much truth. Look at the guy. How is front facing persona is. You know it’s some egomaniac that’s just like fuck you I need more.
It’s funny because publicly, he’s been disapproving of her in photos, chat. Like the look he’s giving her here, urgh.
It honestly sounds like my last job. Unprofessionalism in all its finest with nothing but favouritism, big egos and zero agency or responsibility given. All with endless work in tow. Yup. Good times 🙂🔫
I’m there right now, lemmer, and let me tell 'ya; Fucken shoot me. I am a hamster on a wheel.
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/12/b8/2e/12b82eeba8a286f894257589380caee1.jpg
What handbook?
https://pdfhost.io/v/YuYw8GOm0_LMG_Policy_Handbook
No vacation days in the first 12 months. Then 2 weeks of vacation per year, three weeks after 5 years of consecutive employment.
Damn, I’m happy to live and work in Europe right now, assuming that these are comparable numbers across the North American job landscape.
“Linus Media Group believes that vacation is a necessary opportunity for people to relax, refresh and recharge.” LMAO
The rules on sick leave look quite awful as well.
Jesus, I get 5 weeks instantly every year and I can buy more with salary
Yeah insane. Land of the freee
In the US, or somewhere sensible?
Somewhere sensible, with unions and such
Some people have pointed out, that this seems to be a normal vacation policy within Canada. Still a shitty policy, but I wouldn’t put the majority blame on LMG for this specific issue.
They’re entirely to blame for it at LMG.
I highly doubt Canada has a law against doing more than the bare legal minimum.
Why not blame Canada for their shitty laws? If you had a business, you might just be doing the same
Because Linus controls LMG, he can’t change the laws of Canada but he can offer more than he is.
And no I wouldn’t. If I owned a business, I wouldn’t because I’d have made it a worker run co-op. Not everyone is a greedy capitalist parasite.
There’s a reason the absolutely majority of businesses isn’t run like that, and it’s not because all people suck.
Two reasons, actually.
These people (who do not suck) often don’t really have what it takes to run a successful business. It’s a hard endeavor, especially in the beginning, and often if you don’t do the bare minimum, you die.
As you grow, having 10 clashing opinions is a paralyzing disaster for a company. Solution is to have a CEO/owner whatever, one voice to rule, but at that point, is it really that co-op you dream about?
This is the minimum is Canada, but 3-4 week is more common in many industries. So if they could give less, they probably would.
Oh, it’s worse here in the US. Much worse.
You’re literally required to report bullying to management, but apparently the response is someone telling you to stop being such a bitch.
Some of this is very boilerplate handbook wording but I gotta say some of these benefits are very average at best, especially the time off situation. This is from the perspective of a US government worker, where I regularly see my friends get hired in the private sector and receive much better time off.
And at least in southern New England, there’s some straight up illegal rules in here, notably discussion of wages. Around here you cannot be ordered by anyone not to disclose what you make.
The time off situation is literally just the bare minimum legal amount in Canada.
I think the policy is pretty weak for such a well-loved (up until this week) company. Guess that’s the way the industry works: put up with mediocre pay and benefits because you’re “doing what you love,” or if I’m feeling really jaded I’d say something like “abusing the workers’ passions for the industry.”