[ad_1]
For women from Activision Blizzard, one of the world’s most famous video game companies, showing up for work meant navigating episodes of humiliation, sexual harassment and even physical abuse almost daily, according to a lawsuit. bombshell that sparked a count within the gaming industry.
The claims portray a disturbing image of employee life: widespread sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation and a “frat boy” culture in the workplace where men objectified women’s bodies and openly joked about rape.
The lawsuit was brought by the California Department of Fair Employment and accuses the multibillion-dollar company – whose production includes Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush – of violating state civil rights and equal pay laws.
The fallout was rapid and widespread. This week, the company’s president and his head of human resources resigned after hundreds of employees staged a walkout and thousands signed a petition demanding a response to the scandal.
And it is far from over. Observers say the revelations could be a “watershed moment” for an industry that has long struggled with sexism and a chronic lack of diversity.
“What seems to be different now is the fact that people recognize that these problems are systemic and repeated rather than episodic,” said Amanda Cote, a professor at the University of Oregon who studies sexism and sexism. gender identity in the video game industry. “People seem to be pushing for change across the industry, rather than just one company at a time. “
A “frat boy” work culture
While the gaming industry isn’t necessarily known for its inclusive workplaces for women or people of color, the allegations in the lawsuit were particularly poignant, Cote said.
“This is a particularly blatant trial, but unfortunately I was not really surprised,” she said. “We have known for some time that sexism permeates many areas of the game.”
The lawsuit alleges that employees were routinely kicked out of breastfeeding rooms so that the men could hold meetings. They were criticized for leaving the office to pick up children from daycare while men were playing video games. One employee noted that male employees frequently approached her in the office and commented on her breasts.
The lawsuit contains a heartbreaking example of the alleged “frat boy” atmosphere – a workplace tradition called a “cube crawl,” in which male employees drink copious amounts of alcohol as they “crawl” between. office cubicles and behave inappropriately towards employees.
In another incident, male co-workers at a holiday party allegedly circulated nude photos of a co-worker who had an inappropriate relationship with her supervisor.
Such behavior took place with impunity, while serious discipline was rarely applied, according to the lawsuit. The case cites Alex Afrasabi, the former Creative Director of World of Warcraft, who was reportedly known to harass his female colleagues and repeatedly brag about his hotel room, which he called the “Cosby Suite”, in reference to Bill Cosby. Afrasabi could not be reached for comment.
Executives made aware of his behavior told Afrasabi to participate in verbal counseling, which amounted to “a slap on the wrist,” according to the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, employees who spoke out have often been the target of reprisals, including “deprived of work on projects, involuntarily transferred to different units and selected for layoffs,” the lawsuit said.
Beyond crude jokes and offensive comments, women say Activision Blizzard fostered an environment in which their work was less valued and their careers neglected.
The company’s workforce was only 20 percent female, while all executive positions are held by white men, according to the lawsuit, including the roles of CEO and chairman. Women have consistently been paid less than their male counterparts, offered fewer promotions and been overlooked for executive appointments, according to the lawsuit.
“Very few women reach managerial positions in the company,” the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit also contains allegations of pregnancy discrimination, claiming that supervisors ignored medical restrictions placed on employees and gave them negative reviews while on maternity leave. When employees complained about such treatment, they “fell on deaf ears,” said the lawsuit.
A spokesperson for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing told The Guardian that the department had not commented on the ongoing litigation and that the plaintiffs in the case would not comment.
The company initially played down the allegations, calling the prosecution’s claims “inaccurate” and “distorted.” CEO Bobby Kotick then apologized in a letter, acknowledging the response as “deaf in tone.”
“We are taking quick action to be the compassionate and caring company you came to work for and to ensure a safe environment,” he said. “There is no place anywhere in our business for discrimination, harassment or unequal treatment of any kind.”
He also announced that the company had engaged a third-party law firm “to conduct a review of our policies and procedures.” Employees wrote a letter to Kotick rejecting the plan to hire the company, saying it had an anti-union background and allegiance to the company that would hamper its ability to conduct an objective investigation.
A spokesperson for Activision Blizzard defended the decision to hire the company, called WilmerHale, in a statement, saying it had “extensive experience” in improving work environments by “improving policies and procedures relating to discrimination, harassment and reprisals “.
What happens after
Experts say the fallout from Activision Blizzard could be a turning point in the gaming industry, as employees and the industry in general demand urgent change.
Meanwhile, shareholders are now suing the company, claiming they suffered “economic damage” as executives intentionally withheld information about the lawsuit.
Growing pressure and possible economic losses could prompt other game companies to take harassment and discrimination in the workplace more seriously, said Kellen Voyer, a lawyer specializing in video game companies.
“Companies that may have let things go in the past are going to be much more aggressive in the future to resolve these issues,” he said. “Of course, this is something they should have done from day one, but it will be a momentum for broader change within the industry.”
Video game developer Riot Games settled a complaint in 2019 involving similar allegations and is facing a second complaint filed in 2021. Video game maker Ubisoft faced harassment allegations in 2020, after which it heavily invested in a global diversity audit – although employees are asking for more interventions.
The repercussions could have benefits for all workers, regardless of who they are, in an industry where stress, long hours and precarious contract employment are the norm.
A 2019 study found that permanent gaming employees work in 2.2 companies on average every five years, while contractors and freelancers can work in up to 4.1 companies in the same period. .
“There’s a ton of turnover,” Côté said. “We really need an industry-wide change to ensure that employees are protected at all stages of their careers. “
For their part, Blizzard employees are not satisfied with the company’s response. After the walkout, the organizers issued a statement saying they would continue to clarify requests, including an end to forced arbitration for all employees, pay transparency and greater worker participation in the oversight of hiring and promotion policies and other company processes.
“This is the start of a lasting movement for better working conditions for all employees, especially women of color and transgender women, non-binary people and all other marginalized groups,” the workers said. Activision Blizzard in a statement.
In recent years, the game industry has made strides in hiring more diverse workers and delivering more diverse content, said Renee Gittins, executive director of the International Game Developers Association. But there is “still a lot of work to be done,” she said.
Today, 71% of workers in the gaming industry are men, only 23% are women, and less than 2% identify as Black. The controversy at Activision Blizzard is the latest sign that people who have directly experienced harassment and discrimination in the industry feel “more and more empowered to talk about these issues,” Gittins said.
“I see this as one of the steps on the road to improvement and recovery,” she said. “I don’t think this news is a sign of any worsening of the game’s development. We have a long way to go, and I think this is just one of those steps on that path. “
[ad_2]
Source link