Higher-ups in production would occasionally answer phone calls but reveal little, added one of the sources.
The crew was further incensed by the show’s recent hire of an outside, non-union tech company to help DeGeneres tape remotely from her home in California.
The studio reiterated the crew has been paid consistently, though at reduced hours.
Radio silence from producers created anxiety among crew members who feared they would be furloughed and, in that case, would need to explore unemployment benefits.
A Warner Bros. spokesperson acknowledged that communication could have been better, but cited complications due to the chaos caused by COVID-19.
As of April 10, crew was told to expect a reduced compensation of two, 8-hour work days per week.
Confounded, the “Ellen” crew sought information from colleagues on similar shows, many of whom had opposite experiences from theirs, said sources. »
