GameStop employees are upset at the strict new dress code

The next time you walk into a GameStop, don’t be alarmed by the sudden absence of Fangamer T-shirts and Goku button-ups behind the counter. GameStop workers are about to go full-on corporate, thanks to a newly imposed dress code that limits what employees can wear. Just a few days in, the apparel restrictions are already causing friction for employees.

The dress code, which was enacted at the start of February, differes depending on the status of the worker. Full-time employees need to wear collared shirts or blouses, or polos with small logos. Part-time employees are expected to do the same, but have a bit more leeway: they’re also allowed to wear solid red or black T-shirts. Everyone is allowed to wear anything with GameStop branding, or shirts provided by vendors. According to a worker who says they were present at a recent company-wide meeting, GameStop did not give guidance on pants. GameStop workers who favor khaki-colored cargo pants can rest easy, for now — but they’ll likely have to hang up the requisite green The Legend of Zelda shirts that complete the de facto gamer uniform.

What’s rankling employees about this change is the timing, supply, and messaging. For many, the change feels abrupt and has left people scrambling to comply. Workers claim that GameStop is not providing any shirts for employees — which means an extra expense they weren’t expecting.

“I have exactly 1 item that fits that description,” one employee vented on the r/GameStop subreddit. “I am now going to have to spend AT LEAST $100 (probably more) on clothes when I don’t even make that much.”

GameStop does sell branded polos, but workers are balking at the $32 price tag. At the moment, the GameStop Gear employee show has only women’s polos available, and only in sizes XL and larger. Workers’ dismay at the changes is only heightened by the recent news of CEO Ryan Cohen’s potential $35B payday. GameSpot did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

“I won’t be paying this company to work here,” one worker wrote in a Reddit thread.

While some store managers say they won’t be stringent about the new requirements, other locations plan to fall in line. That lack of unified messaging already seems to be causing problems. While leaders have been told about the changes, the policy has not been communicated to all employees through official channels. Some workers say their managers haven’t mentioned anything yet. At least one woman claims that she was told to wear dresses by her boss.

Dress codes at retailers are typical, but some GameStop employees feel that the video game store operates differently than your standard Best Buy or Target. Most people who work at GameStop are enthusiasts who are knowledgeable about gaming and other nerdy hobbies, and their apparel helps communicate that to customers. Coupled with GameStop’s pre-owned program, the retailer already gives off an informal vibe compared to its competitors.

“Why have employees wear graphic tees in a store filled with every possible pop culture and gaming reference imaginable, that couldn’t possibly make sense, especially since they sell graphic tees regularly,“ one worker points out in a Reddit thread outlining the changes.

“[I don’t know] how many times I’ve gotten a ‘Oh wow dude that’s a sick shirt!’ and I promptly tell them I bought it from the T-shirt rack right next to them,” another chimed.

Rather than getting angry, at least some workers are fighting back against the edict through malicious compliance.

Other GameStop workers are refusing to adhere to the new rules altogether.

“Fire me over it if you want,” one assistant store leader writes, “I’m not spending money on ugly clothes I don’t feel confident in.”