In the grip of justice and a major controversy vis-à-vis the working conditions within it, Activision Blizzard seems to want to go to the next level to change things.
After having massively reshuffled the teams at the head of the company, the American giant has indeed signed an agreement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) aimed at improving working conditions. This should go through a major fundraiser, measures to prevent discrimination and harassment, as well as the creation of tools and training programs in this regard.
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Accused this summer by the Californian justice for the promotion of a “bro culture” and its propensity for harassment and discrimination, Activision Blizzard has since found its head under water. In an attempt to redeem itself, the company began by separating from problematic members such as J. Allen Brick, ex-president of Blizzard, then more recently the director of human resources, or the head of legal affairs, among others.
Even in its games, Activision Blizzard has set out to erase any element that could bring it closer or farther to the accusations made against it. The most prominent example being the move to rename Jesse McCree, the charismatic cowboy of Overwatch, who was named after one of the Blizzard employees held responsible for the infamous "Cosby Suite".
First groping steps according to some, which however did not attack the very root of the problem. After months of trying to salvage things internally, Activision Blizzard finally turned to the EEOC to reach an agreement and improve working conditions for its employees.
To do this, the company has also decided to invest 18 million dollars which will act as financial compensation for complainants who are victims of harassment or discrimination. If the total sum has not served its primary purpose, the rest will be divided between charities. At the head of the works supported by these funds, those seeking to promote the place of women in the video game industry or to raise awareness vis-à-vis discrimination at work.
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A desire to improve conditions in the workplace
Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, currently subpoenaed before US federal authorities, split a statement about this agreement: "There is no place in our company for discrimination, harassment or unequal treatment, and I am grateful to employees who bravely shared their experiences. I am sorry that anyone has had to experience inappropriate conduct and I remain steadfast in my commitment to making Activision Blizzard one of the most inclusive, respected and respectable workplaces in the world.”
Concretely, this agreement signed between Activision Blizzard and the EEOC will result in an improvement of the work policy and the creation of training programs in order to prevent new situations of discrimination and harassment from taking place. The EEOC will vouch for these changes by evaluating the company's actions and appointing an impartial third-party consultant who will report regularly to both signing parties. Activision Blizzard also agrees to hire an Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator, whose mission will be to assist the consultant in the performance of his duties.
The American giant therefore seems truly committed to cleaning up its slate and moving forward. It remains to be seen in the weeks and months to come whether the agreement signed with the EEOC will ultimately bear fruit, and to what extent.
