One can no longer go online, listen to television, check texts without hearing the name GameStop, a once sleepy video game retailer that has become the hottest stock in the world due to the actions of a group of Redditors. The story of how this all happened is fasctinating.

But: how has all the mayhem impacted their GameStop employees?

While the stock market talking heads try to figure out what side of the fence they live on - pro-hedge fund or pro-retail investor - there is a whole set of people left dangling in the wind while the Wall Street battle goes on like something out of Braveheart.

I spoke with one Senior Game Advisor at a GameStop location in New England, who spoke under condition of anonymity, and asked how he felt about the battle royale over their stock. He said it hasn’t really impacted sales or driven additional support to help with hiring at his location so there isn’t much change in the day-to-day business operations. The action has just been more from a positive social lift for employees where existing customers and even passersby are simply dropping a "Hell yeah, GameStop!" vibe in support of the little guy taking on multi-billionaire hedge fund institutions.  When asked specifically about his feelings on the topic, our contact said he was "insanely proud" of what was happening with the GameStop movement.  

As reported on Slate, one assistant manager from a Pennsylvania store said: “Honestly, the thing that matters most to me is that I still have a job and can keep a roof over my head and food on the table,” showcasing that the impact on employees is more about increased sense of stability for the employees in the field.

RNN has also reached out to multiple contacts and managers at several additional store locations in Florida, Texas, Illinois, and California  with no success. The only other direct feedback from one member of the GameStop staff stated that "employees received a memo stating anyone who talks to the press will be fired, without question".

RNN has reached out directly to the GameStop communications team and has failed to receive any comment. We will update this story as we learn more.

‍