Most retailers losing employees deal with standard turnover. GameStop is losing employees because entire stores are disappearing.
With 590 store closures in 2024 and roughly 296 or more in January 2026 alone, many GameStop employees aren’t choosing to leave. They are being told their store no longer exists, sometimes with just days of notice. That context matters because your post-separation options differ depending on whether you quit, were fired, or lost your job to a closure.
Here is what to do based on your situation.
If your store closed
Unemployment: You almost certainly qualify. Store closures are treated as layoffs, and layoffs qualify for unemployment in every state. File as soon as possible. Most states have a one-week waiting period before payments start.
WARN Act: Federal law requires 60 days’ notice before mass layoffs at companies with 100+ employees. If GameStop gave you less notice than that, you may be entitled to back pay covering the gap. Some former employees have reported receiving only days of notice. If that happened to you, it’s worth looking into, either through your state labor department or a free legal consultation.
Transfer offers: GameStop has offered some employees transfers to nearby stores. If you were offered a transfer and turned it down, your unemployment eligibility may be affected depending on your state. If no transfer was offered, you are in the clear.
See how to file for unemployment after being fired for full instructions.
If you quit or were fired
Quit voluntarily: You generally do not qualify for unemployment unless you can demonstrate “good cause” (unsafe conditions, harassment, major schedule changes, etc.). Your benefits follow the standard termination timeline below.
Fired for cause: Depends on the reason. Theft or serious policy violations usually disqualify you. Poor performance or attendance issues may still allow you to collect unemployment in many states.
Health insurance after leaving GameStop
GameStop’s employer-sponsored health coverage ends on the last day of the month you leave. COBRA is available for up to 18 months.
One thing to watch: GameStop’s benefits premiums increased for 2026. If your COBRA rate seems high, that’s partly because the underlying plan costs went up for everyone, including current employees. Compare COBRA against Marketplace plans at healthcare.gov. Many former GameStop employees, especially Game Advisors earning around $28,544 per year on average, qualify for substantial Marketplace subsidies.
For lower-income situations, check Medicaid eligibility.
The employee discount: what you lose
GameStop’s 15 to 25% discount on games, accessories, collectibles, and pre-owned items ends on your last day. The discount never applied to new consoles (which was the number-one frustration among employees), so you aren’t losing access to discounted PS5s or Xbox units because that access never existed.
The 20% trade-in bonus that GameStop offered during closure periods also ends with employment.
Corporate Shopping (the platform with deals from 250+ retailers) deactivates after separation.
For how the discount worked while employed, see GameStop employee discounts.
Your 401(k) after leaving GameStop
GameStop’s 401(k) is administered through ADP. After separation, your account stays active at my.adp.com or w2.adp.com.
Standard options: leave it, roll to an IRA, transfer to a new employer, or cash out (10% penalty plus taxes if under 59 1/2). Check your vesting status to know how much of GameStop’s match belongs to you.
Given the instability at the company, rolling your 401(k) into an IRA sooner rather than later gives you more direct control over the funds. Your balance is legally protected regardless of what happens to GameStop as a company, but having it in your own account removes one thing to worry about.
More in what happens to your 401(k) when you quit.
PTO payout
Employees report pressure around using PTO at GameStop, particularly in stores with lean staffing. Whether your accrued and unused PTO gets paid out follows your state’s law.
If it’s missing from your final paycheck, contact GameStop HR. The Workday portal (myworkday.gamestop.com) or Okta SSO (gamestop.okta.com) may still work for a short time after separation, but don’t count on it.
For state rules, see GameStop final paycheck laws.
Getting your W-2
GameStop W-2s are available through ADP at my.adp.com. If your ADP access still works, navigate to Pay > Tax Statements. If it doesn’t, contact GameStop HR or wait for the paper copy mailed by January 31.
More help in GameStop W-2 for former employees.
What about GameStop stock?
GameStop’s meme-stock history (the 2021 short squeeze) and more recent Bitcoin/crypto investments have made the company’s stock a topic of conversation. If you held GameStop shares through an employee program, those shares are yours after separation. Their value, of course, depends on the market.
CEO Ryan Cohen’s $35 billion pay package and the company’s cryptocurrency investments have been controversial. None of that directly affects your post-separation benefits, but it’s context for why employee morale has been at historic lows and why so many people are searching for this information.
Other benefits that end
Life insurance and disability end on your last day. Any GameStop-specific discount codes for gamestop.com/employee stop working. The employee account portal deactivates.
For the full set of resources, visit the GameStop employee resource hub. If you are still employed and considering leaving, the GameStop quitting process guide covers what to expect.