Paizo Update from Jeff Alvarez

Monday, September 20, 2021

My public statement on Wednesday was a fundamental expression of Paizo’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, values that I share both personally and professionally. It was an opening statement—not the final word on the topic by any means.

Words are important.

But I also know that actions are even more important.

As a result, I want to share with you a number of actions that address some of the concerns that have been brought to our attention over the last week.

The welfare and safety of our employees is paramount. No employee will ever be fired for whistleblowing or advocating for employee safety and wellbeing, and we have never fired an employee for doing so.

Following our return from Gen Con, the Executive Team will schedule individual meetings with our managers to give them a chance to share concerns directly. In the coming weeks, Paizo will issue an independently managed employee engagement survey to provide all employees with an anonymous means to provide candid feedback. The information provided through this process is aimed at addressing employee concerns and driving change to create a more positive workplace.

We take all claims of harassment seriously. Our CEO Lisa Stevens released a statement in 2019 that underscores Paizo’s stance on this matter, and it applies today as well. You can read that here: https://paizo.com/community/guidelines.

We held staff-wide in person anti-harassment training in 2018 and initiated annual mandatory online training earlier in 2021.

We are currently finalizing a job description to fill a vacant full-time HR position. You’ll see this posted in the next few business days, and we’ll be looking for a candidate with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is important to all of us that this professional can help us to maintain Paizo’s shared commitment to our values in recruitment, hiring, and daily operations.

In the meantime, we are encouraging our employees to make use of the free independent human resources hotline Paizo initiated in 2018, where they can report grievances of any kind in complete confidentiality.

Paizo makes decisions about employee convention attendance based on the business and community needs of the show, irrespective of gender or gender identity. However, it is time that Paizo evolves from the longtime practice of employees sharing rooms during convention and business travel. As such, we have enacted a one-employee-per-room policy that will be our standard moving forward. Employees can request to share a room if they so choose.

We are extending Paizo’s existing work-from-home timeline through at least the end of the year. Employees that want to work from the office can continue to do so but will need to abide by the company’s existing vaccination and mask policies. We will continue to follow CDC guidelines and keep our employees as safe as possible during the pandemic by offering work-from-home and a safe office space for those who prefer that option.

Over the last several years, we have invested heavily in Project Management to help the company get a better sense of workload in the Creative Department, implementing company-wide project management software and increasing the size of the project management team. This work has already resulted in increased production schedule lead times, and Paizo will continue to leverage this valuable resource to provide better work/life balances for our employees.

In the same period, the creation of additional management positions within the Creative Department has also helped give staff better access to managers, and to empower those managers to better gauge deadlines and workloads. As with our Project Management initiatives, this is an ongoing process, but it is already bearing fruit and improving not just Paizo’s products, but the lives of the brilliant creatives who make them possible.

To clear up some confusion that has worked its way into the conversation, freelancer relations remains the purview of the Creative Department. Paizo freelancers who appreciate their strong relationship with our developers, editors, and art team can be assured that we have made no changes on this front.

Finally, based on feedback from the staff, we changed professional cleaning services in 2017, and the offices have been cleaned and vacuumed on a regular basis since then.

These aren’t the only things we are doing. We are building strategies to address the challenges facing the company and will strive to be more transparent about our plans as we build stronger lines of communication with everyone at Paizo. We are committed to listening. We are committed to continuing to improve based on the feedback of our teams. There will be more messages, and more concrete actions, to come.

--Jeff

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Dark Archive

7 people marked this as a favorite.
Kain Darkwind wrote:
A bunch of great stuff

Exactly, treating the forumgoers here as two monoliths is reductive and confuses so many of the issues. I came to these forums mostly wanting to discuss the trans discrimination allegations, and yet some people are responding to me talking about financials, which I feel far less informed to speak on. And they're likely frustrated that the left is asking for too much, when really it's a bunch of left leaning people asking for the things which matter most to them individually.

Although I would hope that the most of us here stand with a Paizo that fully embraces inclusivity and non-normative representation. I would hope.

The Exchange

6 people marked this as a favorite.
Totally Not Gorbacz wrote:
Who knows, maybe that would be WotC, thus reuniting Wes, Lyz and few others with Pathfinder?

Now you're making me really afraid. They already completely ruined the Forgotten Realms so WotC is really the absolutely last place I would want to see the Pathfinder IP to go.


21 people marked this as a favorite.

Because it’s been lost in the last several pages of bickering: This statement from Jeff remains insufficient, and is utterly silent on Paizo’s alleged mistreatment of trans staff. I’m not purchasing a Pathfinder product until that’s admitted as being an issue and apologized for… changing the hotel policy without even touching on /why/ folks are upset about it in the first place is cowardly, and a betrayal of the inclusivity Paizo’s products have long focused on.

If you can treat your fictional queers right, you should treat your real-world queer people right, too - and that sometimes includes owning when you dropped the ball.

The Exchange

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Mergy wrote:
Although I would hope that the most of us here stand with a Paizo that fully embraces inclusivity and non-normative representation. I would hope.

Absolutely. And no matter how much we might disagree about details and minutiae about how to do this, this position has my (and I hope most others) complete support.

Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.
WormysQueue wrote:
Mergy wrote:
Although I would hope that the most of us here stand with a Paizo that fully embraces inclusivity and non-normative representation. I would hope.
Absolutely. And no matter how much we might disagree about details and minutiae about how to do this, this position has my (and I hope most others) complete support.

mos def

Liberty's Edge

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Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Dug around and found this post by Liz that got missed (by me)

Link to Post

Damn Paizo. Pay your people. Here I thought you may not be able to afford it but Liz points to you than you can. This seems to line up with what Lulu, Sean and others have been posting.

This could be the easiest fix too. Share the pie. Come up with a plan that is palatable to consumers and make it happen. Not later. Now. Why now? Because you obliviously been kicking the can down the road. Or being greedy.

You have lost some of the best talent in the industry. Hell losing Amanda was a flag to me as a consumer. What happens when you burn thru everyone?


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I think one thing I wish certain people understood is that empathy isn't just about feeling for your fellow human, but also learning through that and growing yourself as a person.

Grand Lodge

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Generally speaking I don't think pay is a primary issue here. Sure, everyone wants to make more money and thinks they deserve more, but what is more important here, and with most workplaces, is the work environment. Improve the conditions and pay becomes less a contended issue. If Paizo eliminated the sources that encourage allegations of gender/orientation prejudices and such issues, then maybe, just maybe there wouldn't be much to complain about. It would mean the number of people cancelling their subscriptions and refusal to buy products would diminish which would lead directly to more revenue. Likewise, the employees would be happier and healthier leading to higher/more efficient productivity which reduces the costs of production, thereby increasing profit. Theoretically that would lead to higher wages. Its all part of the working lifecycle, but it starts with Paizo. Only they can make the improvements necessary to create this ideological growth.


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Could Paizo even state that they mistreated trans/queer folk? From a legal point of view? Could that open the company up to civil rights issues?


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Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I think it's been mentioned already, but if the allegation is "Someone in management wouldn't let two consenting women, one cis and one trans, room together at an event important to their job and career" and the seemingly just announced solution the company's president gave yesterday is "we made it policy for workers to be in separate rooms by default"...

Then the implication is that discrimination wasn't resolved, just worked around and accommodated at greater effort and cost. Maybe even to the detriment of all workers due to increased cost of attendance likely reducing number of attendees.

The message is you'd rather both change policy and pay more money than let trans women do their convention work like everyone else.

Framing that as an evolved approach is, well, very reminiscent of the bathroom bill debates in a bad way.

I would consider this to be directly "transphobic" in a way that's as fresh as yesterday, rather than "years ago".

It's a big bummer to me, as a fan, advocate, and GM.


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Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

No, they probably shouldn't. What they can do is talk about policies and procedures being put in place to make sure that there can never be any perceived mistreatment in the future.

The new rooming policy for example is an attempt to mitigate the issue, but by no means the only one that should be taken.


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AidAnotherBattleHerald wrote:

I think it's been mentioned already, but if the allegation is "Someone in management wouldn't let two consenting women, one cis and one trans, room together at an event important to their job and career" and the seemingly just announced solution the company's president gave yesterday is "we made it policy for workers to be in separate rooms by default"...

Then the implication is that discrimination wasn't resolved, just worked around and accommodated at greater effort and cost. Maybe even to the detriment of all workers due to increased cost of attendance likely reducing number of attendees.

The message is you'd rather both change policy and pay more money than let trans women do their convention work like everyone else.

Framing that as an evolved approach is, well, very reminiscent of the bathroom bill debates in a bad way.

I would consider this to be directly "transphobic" in a way that's as fresh as yesterday, rather than "years ago".

It's a big bummer to me, as a fan, advocate, and GM.

While I think a more specific statement on that would be good and I do think the new policy does seem to be a way to avoid the elephant in the room, it's a better policy in many ways, assuming the cost isn't used to further limit the number of people going to cons - which would be counterproductive, since they're there to represent the company.

Single rooms limits the potential for harassment and limits the chances of people feeling pressure to be roomed with someone they're not comfortable with.

Dark Archive

9 people marked this as a favorite.

People are upset because solving the hotel room issue in this way is very similar to "don't ask, don't tell".


1 person marked this as a favorite.

@mergy

What I’ve seen is several poster asking for acknowledgment. I feel like the new rooming policy does that. But others disagree. So what step would be next?


5 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook Subscriber; Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber
feelsbradman wrote:

@mergy

What I’ve seen is several poster asking for acknowledgment. I feel like the new rooming policy does that. But others disagree. So what step would be next?

I think the way it is worded. Stating that it was a policy long over due for evaluation and updating isn't the same as saying it is being updated because it was harmful, or even potentially harmful, and they want to be mindful of people and their situations.

That also isn't exactly what the original complaint was asking for. They weren't asking for a room of their own, Crystal said that she had someone willing to room with her and was told no.

So there are layers here that people are upset with and some people are upset with multiple layers.

I am a cis guy with a trans kid, my opinion holds as much weight as anyone elses around here who isn't DIRECTLY affected by these kinds of policies.

My opinion is that acknowledgement is what people in my kids community wants. Acknowledgement that they exist, and this type of policy change doesn't acknowledge that it is being changed for their situation, and it doesn't address the fact that the person who was targeted was treated as an other instead of as a human. Just my opinion based on the allegations made off site, and the statement made on it.


@yoshua

I hear your opinion and agree with you. I was just asking can Paizo legally acknowledge the trans part and if they can’t what’s the next step?


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook Subscriber; Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber
feelsbradman wrote:

@yoshua

I hear your opinion and agree with you. I was just asking can Paizo legally acknowledge the trans part and if they can’t what’s the next step?

They can, and if they had an HR person working with their marketing person they might even find a way to word it.

Basically when you make the acknowledgement you just don't put in any specific instances and you position it in a way that it is as positive as possible.

It's a fine line and I understand why they don't want to walk it, but this is one of those dumpster fire situations that if they don't find the right way to put it out it is gonna catch the apartments on fire.

*intentionally using a fire analogy so people can later say I carry a pitch fork.


2 people marked this as a favorite.

I still see a lot of "its a step in the right direction, BUT...." or "I'm still canceling, etc."

There's no pleasing everyone. The fact there's 4-6 different threads about this still going strong just proves it. The same folks over and over too.

Grand Lodge

23 people marked this as a favorite.

You don't release the pressure if you still see ongoing bleeding.


3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Sunderstone wrote:
The same folks over and over too.

Yourself included.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
TriOmegaZero wrote:
You don't release the pressure if you still see ongoing bleeding.

At this point, Paizo said what they have to say on the subject. It's beating a dead horse. All the imagined pressure isn't going to change much beyond the what they said they will do from here onward in the latest release.

Grand Lodge

7 people marked this as a favorite.

Some appear to disagree with that assessment.

Silver Crusade

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Sunderstone wrote:

I still see a lot of "its a step in the right direction, BUT...." or "I'm still canceling, etc."

There's no pleasing everyone. The fact there's 4-6 different threads about this still going strong just proves it. The same folks over and over too.

The same folks, like you?


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Sunderstone wrote:


At this point, Paizo said what they have to say on the subject.
Paizo Update From Jeff Alvarez, the blog we are all commenting on: wrote:
We are committed to listening. We are committed to continuing to improve based on the feedback of our teams. There will be more messages, and more concrete actions, to come.


3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Anorak wrote:

Dug around and found this post by Liz that got missed (by me)

Link to Post

Damn Paizo. Pay your people. Here I thought you may not be able to afford it but Liz points to you than you can. This seems to line up with what Lulu, Sean and others have been posting.

This could be the easiest fix too. Share the pie. Come up with a plan that is palatable to consumers and make it happen. Not later. Now. Why now? Because you obliviously been kicking the can down the road. Or being greedy.

You have lost some of the best talent in the industry. Hell losing Amanda was a flag to me as a consumer. What happens when you burn thru everyone?

Yeah, I completely missed this post and I appreciate you sharing it. It points to an all too common issue in ANY creative employment space. Companies will always pay something close to the rate that the market assigns to an employee. There is some deviation based around unique circumstances but by in large it's pretty consistent.

Creatives are typically 'valued' for their passion. This passion however has ALWAYS been exploited by employers. They tend to expect longer hours (sometimes unpaid) and willingness to accept a lower salary because they 'get to work on something they love'... It's really sickening.

With that said though it's a negative trait of MOST creative jobs. I used to work for an employer that paid junior programmers close to minimum wage.. for a chance to build up their portfolio and 'get professional experience' working in the industry. There were also designers that got drastically underpaid because they were passionate about their work. HR recruiting typically asked for things like 'Self Starters' and 'Rockstars'.. Usually seeking people that will take it onto themselves to do free or reduced pay overtime and who are willing to accept a much lower wage.

Video Game industry work is PLAGUED by this issue and I can easily see that expanding over to the tabletop game industry.

Because of this I firmly support employees that are wanting to unionize for better bargaining power as well as raising the minimum wage to force employers to pay a living wage to their employees. Without that being done though I don't think it fair to expect an employer to do what some might consider 'morally right' and pay over the market rate on an employees wage. Doing that would require adjustments to their business model and put them at an unfair competitive stance with similar companies in the industry not being held to the same standard.


10 people marked this as a favorite.
Sunderstone wrote:

I still see a lot of "its a step in the right direction, BUT...." or "I'm still canceling, etc."

There's no pleasing everyone. The fact there's 4-6 different threads about this still going strong just proves it. The same folks over and over too.

I have a single concern and Paizo has yet to remark on it. I’m allowed to still be displeased.

If this discussion bothers you, just hit the little X to turn off notifications for these threads :)

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