Ex-BioWare Employees File Lawsuit Over Insufficient Severance Pay

A lawsuit has been filed by a group of former BioWare employees who were laid off in August, citing inadequate severance packages. The Dragon Age and Mass Effect developer had let go of 50 staff members, citing 'changing studio needs.' Now, seven of the affected individuals have taken their case to Alberta's Court of King's Bench, arguing that the severance offer was unreasonably low. According to their legal representation, Worobec Law, the typical severance pay in Alberta for termination without cause is at least one month's pay per year of service, plus full benefits. However, the ex-BioWare group, with an average of 14 years of service, claims they were offered significantly less. Despite attempts to negotiate, BioWare allegedly refused to increase the severance amounts. The former employees are now seeking fair compensation and punitive damages for 'unreasonably poor treatment.' One of the plaintiffs expressed concern about the difficulty of finding new employment, especially given the upcoming holiday season and the fact that BioWare's non-disclosure agreements prevent them from showcasing their recent work on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf in their portfolios. The group's lawyer, R. Alex Kennedy, suggests that BioWare may have included illegal provisions in its contracts, attempting to reduce its obligations to the employees below what is typically awarded by the courts.