Activision Blizzard sued over toxic work culture

Last Updated on: 23rd July 2021, 07:53 pm

Update (07/23/21): One extra detail was added to the various kinds of harassment female employees endured. As such, please be aware, a mention of suicide are in this article.

Video games are definitely one of my favorite hobbies. I love playing them, I love buying them, and I love following the people that make them. But damnit, I really wish we could go at least a full year without finding out something heinous regarding the industry. It really sucks when a developer you respected turns out to be notorious for shitty behavior or fostering toxic conditions for its employees.

Activision Blizzard has been no stranger to being in the crosshairs of many that deride its shady business practices and diminishing quality over the years. Now, it seems like Activision Blizzard is in for a new type of ride, as it is being sued by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. I think we can all say it was a matter of time before something like this was to happen to the once-beloved company.

“Frat Boy” Culture, something you wish you didn’t know about

According to Bloomberg’s article on the matter, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing is filing a lawsuit on behalf of female employees that have been the victims of a disgusting work environment. According to the article:

“A two-year investigation by the state agency found that the company discriminated against female employees in terms and conditions of employment, including compensation, assignment, promotion, and termination.”

In addition to the lack of equal treatment for female employees, there was also a workplace culture of inappropriate conduct that ranged from crude jokes at their expense to shirking responsibilities and pushing the unfinished work onto female employees. All in all, there was an air of unprofessionalism that came at the expense of the female employees’ comfort and by extension their livelihoods.

Holding back promotions, crude remarks regarding family lives, and being kicked out of lactation rooms so they could be used for meetings were among the many other indignities that female employees suffered.

The most disturbing of these stories, however, is one where a female worker committed suicide while on a company trip with her male supervisor. She had been the victim of sexual harassment prior to the act, which included the passing of nude photos of her at one company party.

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It’s time for better change

I think we can all say that we’ve had our fill of finding out that previously revered companies harbored horrible work conditions that drove their employees to the absolute breaking point. Everything from mismanagement that has led to obscene levels of crunch, to Ubisoft fostering an environment of sexual harassment that has since then, led to the departure of many high-level officials from the company. There has been no shortage of controversies in the video game work industry.

Many are tired of seeing this sort of news plastered alongside their video game stories and hype around new releases, but as long as people suffer, their voices have to be recognized and amplified so these companies can be held accountable. No one, especially those in power, should be allowed to abuse their status for some sick kicks. Activision Blizzard being sued to rectify this behavior is just a sign that the industry needs to do a better job of protecting its employees.

Women shouldn’t have to consider suicide as the only option to escape the suffering they endure at the workplace.

As expected, a spokesperson Activision Blizzard did respond to being sued, with the statement also being in the Bloomberg article:

“We value diversity and strive to foster a workplace that offers inclusivity for everyone. There is no place in our company or industry, or any industry, for sexual misconduct or harassment of any kind…We take every allegation seriously and investigate all claims. In cases related to misconduct, action was taken to address the issue…The picture the DFEH paints is not the Blizzard workplace of today.”

The Click has reached out for a statement from Activision Blizzard.

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