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Recently, the state of California initiated a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, a prominent video game publisher, citing widespread harassment of women within the company. The lawsuit revealed accounts of a toxic work environment characterized by excessive drinking, irresponsibility, and power harassment, leading to the tragic loss of a female employee’s life.
Responding to the lawsuit, an Activision Blizzard spokesperson emphasized their commitment to diversity and inclusivity, condemning any form of sexual misconduct or harassment in the workplace.
However, many employees expressed discontent with the company’s response, viewing it as a misrepresentation of their experiences. As a result, over 300 Activision Blizzard employees staged a walkout to protest the ongoing harassment, management’s handling of the situation, and to advocate for better employee benefits.
The organizers released a statement expressing their belief that the company’s leadership does not align with the values of the employees. This sentiment was echoed by Valentine Powell, a software engineer participating in the strike, who highlighted long-standing grievances within the company that have now surfaced.
In solidarity with the Activision Blizzard workers participating in the walkout to condemn the troubling revelations from the recent lawsuit. Our support is with you! #ActiBlizzWalkout
— Game Workers of Southern California (@GWSoCal) July 27, 2021
The strikers have outlined four key demands: abolishing mandatory arbitration clauses in employee contracts, implementing initiatives to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion, disclosing compensation data and promotion rates across all demographics, and engaging a third-party auditor to assess the company’s structure, human resources practices, and executives.
For those unable to join the physical protest, a virtual demonstration will take place using the Twitter hashtag #ActiBlizzWalkout. Participants are urged not to engage in Activision Blizzard games such as World of Warcraft and Call of Duty in solidarity with the protest.
