Yesterday, attorneys representing an Activision Blizzard employee held a press conference outside Blizzard Entertainment’s headquarters in California, demanding more compensation for workers affected by sexual harassment and discrimination. An employee, named Christine, spoke about her first-hand experiences of misconduct and retaliation while working at the company over the past four years, alleging that she experienced inappropriate touching. , unwanted sexual practices, and a “male-female culture that is detrimental to women”.
When Christine complained to supervisors, she said she had been told the alleged harassers were “just joking”. She added that she was asked not to go to Human Resources, and after complaining she was demoted, further harassed, and received a minimum wage increase during her time at Blizzard.
“We’re here because the sexual harassment victims at Activision Blizzard have been ignored,” said attorney Lisa Bloom. “They’re still suffering, and it’s time for them to take priority.”
Bloom went on to talk about the many government agencies that have investigated the company. She brought particular attention to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), who brought ActiBlizz to court on charges of sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, and retaliation. They agreed on a settlement asked ActiBlizz to create an $18 million fund to compensate victims like Christine. However, Bloom said that not only did the company miss a legal deadline to appoint a claims administrator to distribute the fund, but Bloom also criticized the size of the fund.
“Given that there are hundreds of victims, I think we can all agree that the $18 million figure is staggeringly disproportionate,” she said.
To that end, Bloom asked Activision Blizzard to “establish a fund in excess of $100 million” with a “reasonable, expeditious, fair process for victims to resolve their legal claims.” “. She also asked for a “real apology” to those who have experienced sexual harassment and retaliation, as well as a review from a neutral third party to look into the damage the company culture has done. to the employee and remedy the damage.
Following the press conference, Activision Blizzard sent a statement to PC Gamers. that.”
Meanwhile, CEO Bobby Kotick remained at the company, despite numerous calls from employees and shareholders demanding that he be removed. Workers organize a walk asked him to resign last month, following a report by the Wall Street Journal unearth shocking allegations about his behaviour.
Many ActiBlizz employees also left this week, in protest Activision lays off dozens of QA testers from Raven Software.
