After encountering a first lawsuit by the state of California for workplace and sexual harassment towards female employees and adding a class action lawsuit for refusing to investigate these cases, Activision Blizzard has yet another lawsuit for your list.
As reported by IGN, the ABK Workers Alliance, an association made up of the company’s employees, has filed a lawsuit for unfair labor practices before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Along with the support of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), the main allegation lies in intimidation of employees.
From the statement shared to the media, it is noted that Activision Blizzard has practiced “coercive tactics to try to prevent your employees from exercising their rights to stand together and demand a more equitable, sustainable and diverse workplace. “In turn, the organization reminds that” it is your right as workers to organize for a work environment free of abuse, discrimination and sexual harassment, and this right is protected by federal labor law. “
Exemplifying this behavior, ABK indicates that the company has prohibited the staff from touching temas related to wages, hours or working conditions. It is also pointed out that there was great pressure on those people who participated in employee meetings to organize movements against the company.
Vice has consulted with several anonymous Activision Blizzard employees, which describe scenarios in which the company questions the work of employees involved in cases against the company itself. In turn, he also points out another employee has occurred “a hemorrhage of people “, referring to the large number of members who have left Activision Blizzard as a result of harassment allegations.
The CWA has stated in The Washington Post that “the administration could have responded with humility and a willingness to take the necessary steps to correct some of the dire conditions that certain Activision Blizzard workers have had to deal with. Instead, their response was to spy on employees, intimidate them, and hire third parties to prevent unionization. “
ABK points out that their requests for change have not yet been addressed in a meaningful way at Activision Blizzard and they claim to continue on the proposed path. ABK itself has finalized in its Twitter account, indicating that, if a ruling is reached in its favor, the consequences will set a precedent in the United States.
If the NLRB rules in our favor, the ruling will be retroactive and we will set a precedent that no worker in the US can be intimidated out of talking about forced arbitration.
– ABetterABK (@ABetterABK) September 14, 2021
If the NLRB rules in our favor, the ruling will be retroactive and we will set a precedent that no worker in the US can be intimidated when talking about forced arbitration.
New appointment
Among all this maelstrom of accusations, Activision Blizzard he has applied his own internal movements. In a publication on its website, the company has announced the hiring of two executives, in order to “help the company build a more inclusive workplace, as well as to diversify and increase their income “.
Specifically we are talking about Julie Hodges, Vice President of Human Resources at The Walt Disney Company, who goes on to become Chief of Staff. On the other hand, we have Sandeep dube, vice president of Delta Airlines, and who will act as commercial director. They will take office on September 21 and 27, respectively.
Hodges’ job will be to ensure “the diversity, equity and inclusion, talent acquisition, employee experience, learning and development, compensation and benefits, and workforce planning. “
Bobby kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, has been enthusiastic about its arrival. “I can’t think of a better person to join our team. and help lead our ongoing commitment to an inclusive workplace, “says Kotick. Hodges herself also wanted to make her first statements in this role.
“A workforce in which everyone feels valued is critical to the success of our business, as is a trusting, engaging and safe environment that fosters creativity and innovation and in which all employees can thrive. It takes a collective effort to do this, and I look forward to ensuring that we support the diversity of our talents to bring our people together and continue to create incredible entertainment, “concluded Hodges.