Activision Blizzard Employees Disappointed Demands Aren’t Addressed

Following yesterday’s announcement of the Activision Blizzard Walkout at the moment (and a noticeable dip within the firm’s share value), CEO Bobby Kotick sent an email to the staff with a rather different tone than previous corporate communications relating to the California DFEH lawsuit that alleges a discriminatory “frat boy” culture on the writer. Nevertheless, many workers nonetheless aren’t happy that the actions reportedly being taken aren’t addressing the calls for that they really feel would create true change in direction of a extra truthful, protected, and equitable working setting.

Whereas Kotick acknowledged that different feedback from executives and the corporate have been “tone deaf,” he failed to handle any of the core 4 calls for that workers issued as a part of at the moment’s walkout; Particularly ending compelled arbitration, permitting workers to be part of hiring and promotion insurance policies, pay transparency throughout the corporate, and permitting workers the flexibility to pick a 3rd occasion to audit Activision Blizzard’s HR.

Activision Blizzard walkout organizers simply launched a press release in response to CEO Bobby Kotick’s electronic mail to workers wherein he described the corporate’s response as “tone deaf” pic.twitter.com/64D7w8PhOL

— Megan Farokhmanesh (@Megan_Nicolett) July 28, 2021

You may learn the total worker assertion in response to Kotick’s message under:

On the night earlier than our worker walkout, Activision Blizzard management launched a press release apologizing for his or her dangerous responses to final week’s DFEH lawsuit. Whereas we’re happy to see that our collective voices—together with an open letter with hundreds of signatures from present workers—have satisfied management to alter the tone of their communications, this response fails to handle crucial components on the coronary heart of worker issues.

Activision Blizzard’s response didn’t handle the next:

• • The tip of compelled arbitration for all workers.
  • Employee participation in oversight of hiring and promotion insurance policies.
  • The necessity for higher pay transparency to make sure equality.
  • Worker number of a 3rd occasion to audit HR and different firm processes.

Right this moment’s walkout will exhibit that this isn’t a one-time occasion that our leaders can ignore. We is not going to return to silence; we is not going to be placated by the identical processes that led us thus far.

That is the start of a permanent motion in favor of higher labor circumstances for all workers, particularly girls, specifically girls of coloration and transgender girls, nonbinary folks, and different marginalized teams.

We count on a immediate response and a dedication to motion from management on the factors enumerated above, and stay up for sustaining a constructive dialogue on find out how to construct a greater Activision Blizzard for all workers.

Right this moment, we get up for change. Tomorrow and past, we would be the change.

Whereas Kotick’s assertion promised that the corporate would “proceed to research each declare and won’t hesitate to take decisive motion,” many workers clearly really feel that the corporate has already failed them and others on this regard. Equally, guarantees of “listening classes” as “protected areas” don’t empower workers or instill a way of confidence in a company construction the place administration and HR has confirmed to many to be the roots of the issue. There may be an exterior legislation agency coming in to research insurance policies and course of, however the legislation agency and particular person main the cost seem to have been chosen by Kotick himself. And although Kotick promised “personnel modifications,” we haven’t but seen something actionable.

Many see Kotick’s message as a crucial communique from the manager group at Activision Blizzard after almost per week of silence from its varied manufacturers (and the inventory value starting to dip), however the workers most affected don’t really feel that it guarantees sufficient or empowers the workforce to alter what’s a deeply-rooted cultural challenge on the firm. Executives wish to transfer previous the lawsuit allegations and get again to the enterprise of constructing video games (and subsequently, cash), however the assertion from the workers makes clear that at the moment’s walkout is “the start of a permanent motion,” they usually aren’t keen to just accept compromises that proceed to comb main issues below the rug.

“We is not going to return to silence; we is not going to be placated by the identical processes that led us thus far.”