Activision Blizzard workers walk out after harassment lawsuit: NPR

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Employees walk across Blizzard Avenue during a strike at the Activision Blizzard offices in Irvine, California, on Wednesday. Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images Hide caption

Bing Guan/Bloomberg caption swapped via Getty Images

Employees walk across Blizzard Avenue during a strike at the Activision Blizzard offices in Irvine, California, on Wednesday.

Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Employees at video game studio Activision Blizzard quit their jobs Wednesday after an explosive lawsuit detailing rampant sexual harassment and gender discrimination within the California company.

According to a statement of intent published by several news outlets on Tuesday, the group of employees who organized the strike criticized the company for its initial response to the civil lawsuit. This response largely defended Activision Blizzard and criticized the state agency that brought the lawsuit.

“[W]We believe that our values ​​as employees are not accurately reflected in the words and actions of our leadership,” the staff statement read.

The employee group urged the company to work with them on four demands, including ending mandatory arbitration clauses in employee contracts and releasing salary and other data.

They said their goal is to improve conditions for employees at the company, especially women and especially “women of color and transgender people, non-binary people, and other marginalized groups”.

Company CEO apologizes for ‘tone deaf’ response

Also on Tuesday, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotik apologized for the game giant’s “deaf” response to problems raised by employees at the company.

“It is essential that we acknowledge all viewpoints and experiences and respect the feelings of those who have been mistreated in any way,” Kotik said. “I’m sorry we didn’t offer the right sympathy and understanding.”

Wednesday’s strike occurred in person at the company’s office in Irvine as well as nearly as well for those who were working remotely or at other locations.

Using the hashtag #ActiBlizzWalkout, several employees shared their support for the work on social media.

“So proud to work with and stand by these people,” Anna Rosenberg, assistant software engineer at Blizzard tweeted. “We will continue to fight for systemic change to protect women and marginalized races together.

A civil lawsuit filed by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing last week alleged that the company’s culture was akin to a “brother’s house” where female employees were subjected to sexual harassment, including unwanted jokes and touching.

The suit alleged that women who worked at Activision Blizzard were paid less than men for doing the same work and were overpaid for promotions.

More than 2,000 employees signed an open letter to Activision Blizzard’s management team describing its initial response to the allegations against the company as “distasteful and insulting.”

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