Nearly 1,100 workers are moving to full-time roles

Activision Blizzard is moving its U.S.-based QA workers into full-time roles. The company ?has announced that QA employees will become full-time, with full benefit??s, starting July 1.

QA employees at Activision Blizzard had previously pushed for this move, including those at Raven Software. The QA team at Raven held a strike, which ended with the team voting in favor of unionization.

Nearly 1,100 workers will be affected, which will push a pretty large number of workers into full-time roles at the company. Activision Blizzard is also raising its minimum hourly pay for these positions up to $20/hour, as of April 17. An Activision Blizzard spokesperson told Polygon that both Activision and Blizzard will continue to use external partner support for QA???? workers when workload exceeds the team's bandwidth.

An Activision Blizzard spokesperson tells Bloomberg that?? Raven workers, however, won't receive new pay initiatives due to legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act. "Whether Raven workers choose to unionize has nothing to do with the salary increases elsewhere for Activision’s QA workers," the spokespe??rson told Bloomberg.

Moving QA workers into full-time roles was one of the Raven QA team's original demands. That statement also includes a call to offer the same to several individuals who were laid off from the company last December. In a statement to GI Biz, an Activision Blizzard representative said the conversion of workers to full-time "does not have any relation to the?? petition pending at Raven studio."

"The Raven situation is limited to Raven," the spokesperson told GI Biz. "The testers whose contracts weren't extended were welcome? t?hen, and now, to apply for any jobs at the company."

A push for QA recognition

It's ?a step forward for QA workers at the company, though Ac??tivision Blizzard workers are still protesting other issues too. Most recently, workers at Activision Blizzard spoke out against the removal of a vaccine mandate as studios returned to the office.

The publisher later changed its decision, allowing its studio?s to create their own policies. Several did, and have established vaccination ??and testing policies.

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The ABK Workers Alliance issued a response today, saying it is overjoyed. "A year ago, we made a promise to make A Better ABK," the alliance said today. "Little by little, we are accomplishing that goal. This is the power of collective action. When you work with your co-workers for the betterment?? of your workplace, the ?impossible becomes possible."

This story has been updated to reflect ongoing developments.

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More efforts are underway for change at Activision Blizzard

The ABK Workers Alliance, an organization of workers across Activision Blizzard, has opened a strike fund. This arrives alongside the initiation of its own work stoppage, calling for its demands to be met and worker represent?ation within the company.

The GoFundMe page lays out a timeline of allegations and reports on incide??nts within the company.

"In the months since, we've seen CEO Bobby Kotick and the Board of Directors protect abusers and only hold perpetrators accountable after the events were brought to lig?ht by outside media," reads their statement. "We've seen Activision hire law firm WilmerHale, known for union busting, to disrupt and impede the improvement efforts of Activision-Blizzard workers. We've seen Raven Software workers lured by the promise of promotion, only to be terminated shortly after relocation on top of the already underappreciated and severely underpaid working conditions of ABK workers across the co?mpany."

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These events and others, the organizers say, have led an alliance of Activision Blizzard workers to hold a work stoppage until demands are met. The strike fund will, to that extent, contribute to offsetting wages lost from the work stoppage. They'll also go towards the potential relocation of Raven Software employees who were "forced to move without financial assistance at the insistence of Activision Blizzard," as reported at outlets like Uppercut.

The Washington Post also reports that emp??loyees, workin??g with the Communication Workers of America, are asking workers to sign union authorization cards.

Employees from Raven Software and other branches had already forme?d a walkout in protest of sudde?n layoffs earlier this week. In emails seen by The Washington Post, manag??ement told workers that their wages would be paid for Monday through Wednesday, but not any further. Any who continue to strike will ??be unpaid or dipping into their paid time off.

We've reached out to ??Activision Blizzard for comment.

This is another point in the timeline of ongoing tensions at Activision Blizzard. Since the announcement of the Califor?nia Department of Fair Employment? and Housing's suit against the publisher over allegations of discrimination, harassment, and a toxic culture, more stories have come out and employees have held escalating demonstrations, calling for their demands to?? be met. All this, on the same day a?s The Game Awards 2021, could be what kickstarts a larger shift in the industry.

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A new report alleges CEO Bobby Kotick knew of sexual misconduct allegations within the company for years

A massive new report from the Wall Street Journal today has brought even more allegations to light at publisher Activision Blizzard. It says Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Ko??tick knew of allegations of employee misconduct, while bringing forward further allegations against Kotick and the company's internal culture. And now, employees are walking out and calling for his resignation.

The Wall Street Journal's article highlights several incidents that have reportedly taken place at Activision Blizzard. This includes a former Sledgehammer Games employee who says she was raped by a male supervisor, in 2016 and in 2017, after being pressured to consume too much alcohol in?? the office and at work events?. The employee reported the incidents to Sledgehammer HR but, according to emails, nothing happened. Activision later reached an out-of-court settlement, according to people familiar with the matter, and the WSJ reports that Kotick didn't inform the company's board about the situation.

Further allegations point to workplace drinking and a culture with little oversight, as well as allegations of Kotick himself mistreating women who worked for him. Treyarch co-head Dan Bunting was accused of sexual harassment, and the WSJ reports that Kotick intervened to keep him at the studio after an internal ??investigation recommended he be fired. The Journal reached out to Bunting and Activision ?about the matter; Bunting did not respond to requests for comment, while Activision's spokesperson said an outside investigation was conducted in 2020 and that the company elected not to terminate Bunting, but to impose other disciplinary measures. Bunting left the company after the Journal reached out for comment.

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One section in particular highlights the departure of form??er Bl?izzard co-head Jen Oneal. Oneal was established as co-leader of Blizzard alongside Mike Ybarra earlier this year, following the departure of president J. Allen Brack. Months later, Oneal announced she would be leaving the company at the end of the year. The Journal reports that Oneal sent an email to a member of Activision's legal team, professing a lack of faith in leadership to tur??n the culture around. Oneal's email repor??tedly says she had been sexually harassed earlier in her time at Activision, and that she was paid less than her Blizzard counterpart.

I encourage you to read the full Wall Street Journal report here, as it's a lot of reporting done over the breadth of ??the company.

This morning, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick sent a video response out to employee?s, which was also posted�a href="//www.activisionblizzard.com/newsroom/2021/11/a-message-from-ceo-bobby-kotick" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in text form—on the co??mpany's website. In it, he says there's an "article today that paints an inaccurate and misleading view of our company, of me personally, and my lead?ership."

"First, we are incredibly fortunate to have the most talented people in our industry all so committed to constant improvement. And I share this commitment," said Kotick. "The second thing I want to say is that anyone who doubts my conviction to be the most welcoming, inclusive workplac??e doesn’t really appreciate how important this is to me."

Activision Blizzard's Board of Directors issued a statement responding to the article:

“The Activision Blizzard Board remains committed to the goal of making Activision Blizzard the most welcoming and inclusive company in the industry. Under Bobby Kotick's leadership the Company is already implementing industry leading changes including a zero tolerance harassment policy, a dedication to achieving significant increases to the percentages of women and non-binary people in our workforce and significant internal and external investments to accelerate opportunities ?for diverse talent. The Board remai??ns confident that Bobby Kotick appropriately addressed workplace issues brought to his attention.

The goals we have set for ourselves are both critical and ambitious. The Board remains confident in Bobby Kotick's leadership, commitment and ability to achieve these goals.�/p>

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reports that Activision emailed employees yesterday, saying ??they'd get all of Thanksgiving week off; some, according to Schreier, theorize this was to try and boost moral??e ahead of the Journal's report.

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In response, the AB?K Workers Alliance has organized a walkout today, ca?lling for Kotick to be replaced as CEO and continuing to demand a third-party review by an employ?ee-chosen source.

Activision Blizzard has been under scrutiny from several investigative bodies, following the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing's suit against the publisher. The company recently announced it would be dropping required arbitration, one of the demands of the ABK Workers Alliance. The workers organization said it was a huge win, but reiterated that there was still more to be done.

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CEO Bobby Kotick will take a pay cut until the board determines it's achieved its outlined goals

Today, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick outlined the company's g?oals in moving? forward, amid several investigations into its workplace culture.

In an email to employees that's been shared on the Activision Blizzard site, Kotick addresses the EEOC's investigation in particular. He calls their review a "catalyst" to sharpen focus on how Activision Blizzard can change, as he apologizes f?or the poor workplace practices that proliferated.

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing file?d a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard earlier this year, alleging discrimination and a toxic workplace culture at the company. Other investigations have followed, and several notable employees have already departed the company.

"The guardrails weren’t in place everywhere to ensure?? that our values were being?? upheld," said Kotick. "In some cases, people didn’t consistently feel comfortable reporting concerns, or their concerns weren’t always addressed promptly or properly. People were deeply let down and, for that, I am truly sorry."

Kotick outlines five ?changes com??ing to Activision Blizzard:

• A company-wide zero-tolerance harassment policy; this includes immediate termination of those found to have retaliated against anyone for compliance complaints, and termination under their zero-tolerance policy will include immediate forfeiture of future compensation.
• An increase of women and non-binary workforce by 50%, with $250 million invested over the next decade in accelerating opportunities for diverse talent
• Waiving required arbitration of sexual harassment and discrimination claims
• Increased visibility on pay equity
• Regular progress updates, including a quarterly status report

Additionally, Kotick confirms he will be taking a pay cut down to minimum sa?lary under California law, at $62,500. He clarifies this is a reduction in overall compensation, and he's asked to not receive any bonuses or be granted equity during this period. His total compensation will be reduced until the Board of Directors has determined the goals and commitments outlined have been achiev??ed.

Following the DFEH's lawsuit, Activision Blizzard employees organized a walkout and formed a coalition called the ABK Workers Alliance. Following Kotick's email, the ABK Workers Alliance issued a statement online, saying today was a "huge win." They do, however, state that there is still more to be done in addressing all the demands they've laid out.

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The ABK Workers Alliance criticizes Activision Blizzard's choice of law firm

Employees of various Activision Blizzard studios have formed a coalition, called t?he ABK Workers Alliance, and filed a joint letter to CEO Bobby Kotick and leadership. In it, the group calls for the leadership team to address their response to the lawsuit, acknowledge the reality of working conditions at the?? company, and commit to "meaningful change."

In a letter provided to IGN, employees from numerous Activision Blizzard studios—including King, Activision, Blizzard, Beenox, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games, Raven Software, and Vicarious Visions—express their stance following last week's walkout.

The walkout, alongside this and another letter filed by Activision Blizzard employees, all came in the wake of a lawsuit filed by the California Depar?tment of Fair Employment and Housing. The lawsuit alleges a toxic work culture at the company, including reports of discrimination and sexual harassment. The initial response from Activision Blizzard was not well-received, and this morning the company announced the departure of Blizzard president J. Allen Brack, ahead of this afternoon's earnings call.

Today's letter highlights Activision Blizzard leadership's response to the demands put forward by employees, includin?g an en??d to forced arbitration, the adoption of inclusive recruitment and hiring practices, increases in pay transparency through compensation metrics, and an audit of Activision Blizzard King policies and practices, performed by a neutral third party selected by an employee-led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task force.

To that last point, Activision Blizzard hired WilmerHale to conduct an internal review. The ABK Workers Alliance writes that it rejects that selection due to the firm's pre-existing relationships with Activision Blizzard and its executives, creating what it c?alls an "unacceptable conflict of interest." The al?liance also cites several past instances of WilmerHale discouraging collective action.

The letter calls on Activision Blizzard leadership to "do better," by fully addressing the list of demands. It also outlines actions the coalition itself is taking, including building a worker-to-worker mentorship program, hosting open listening sessions?, and facilitating monthly community meetings.

"We are doing what we can, and we call on you to do what we cannot," the letter concludes. According to IGN, Activision Blizzard leadership has received the letter and is currently reviewing it. You can find the full text in IG??N's report, published with the ABK Worker??s Alliance's permission, here.

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