People from Activision and Ubisoft claim that the management ignores them -apkrig
The smoldering case between groups of Activision or Ubisoft employees and the relevant management is still not coming to a satisfactory conclusion. While the managers and presidents of the two large companies are talking about changes that have already been introduced by the parties to improve workplace conditions and are planned for the near future, on the other side of the imaginary barricade, the exact opposite is heard. ABetterUbisoft (ABU) groups, resp. ABetterActivisionBlizzardKing (ABetterABK), which a few weeks ago called for a more active solution to systemic abuses of power and doubts, causing long-standing cultural rot, speaks of the fact that the leadership is completely deaf to them and nothing really changes.
The Game Relations magazine (known for many years as Gamasutra) informs about the complicated relationship, which gave space to the representatives of both employee groups and thus gives them an insight into the whole dispute. For example, ABetterABK states that the management of Activison and Blizzard simply did not accept their requirements, so that employment contracts should continue to include arbitration or arbitration clauses as a condition, on the basis of which all serious disputes will be resolved without the presence of courts. The Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Working Group was said to have been prevented from monitoring the situation in the workplace, as well as raising awareness among all employees. Last but not least, there should be no publication of data on employee remuneration in order to ensure fair conditions for women and men in the same positions.
As for the ABU group operating in Ubisoft, it says for a change that it has been more than a month since 1,000 current and former employees of the French company signed an open letter to management calling for meaningful changes in work culture. However, according to the ABU representative, the group has not received any response at all times, and this continues to lead to problems that, according to the group, are in conflict with equal working conditions. For example, ABU demands that Ubisoft stop protecting its managers who are associated with harassment cases or unfair treatment by simply moving between branches. ABU also requests that one of the board be present on the board, which could influence how Ubisoft will be managed as a multinational company and the corporate culture.
However, it still seems that the whole process of revival – whether necessary or not – is at the beginning and the two camps do not communicate with each other in spite of public statements. This is confirmed in the statement for Game Developer by the two mentioned groups, which talk about apathy on the part of the management and only symbolic gestures, which, however, really lead nowhere. However, it is fair to add that Bobby Kotick reacted to the attitude of the employees of Activision, Blizzard and King, talking about quick measures, evaluating the work of managers and starting a mutual discussion. Unfortunately, the allegations made by the ABetterABK group at the moment can only be taken as the view of one party without directly confirming the state of affairs of the company, which should be decided by a court on the basis of an action brought by the Office for Fair Working Conditions. Nor can the resignation of Blizzard President J. Allen Brack, which cannot be considered merely, stand aside symbolic gesture. Regarding Ubisoft’s response, President Yves Guillemot promised to address criticism from employees, mentioning the introduction of an anonymous system for reporting any workplace offenses, sophisticated recruitment mechanisms and, unlike Activision, an uncompromising approach to discrimination and retaliation from parties of senior managers.
