This week, a lawsuit was filed, claiming that the behavior is corrosive that is now becoming more common in the video gaming industry.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD is the most recent video game company to come under the spotlight for allegedly inculcating the culture of sexism. A California Department of Fair Employment and Housing suit filed on Wednesday declares widespread sexual harassment and discrimination against the company`s female employees. The systems and structures are similar to ones exposed in lawsuits and exposes about Riot Games and Ubisoft over the last few years.
Since years, the games business has faced work-related inequality. Numerous companies have been reluctant, if not reticent to admit their discriminatory culture, which in some cases was built on system and the employees who were the most vulnerable. Activision Blizzard has the opportunity to make a difference. It isn`t likely to.
The industry of games is often dominated by males, and has been known for its hostility towards women. The 29-page DFEH complaint follows an investigation lasting two years into Activision Blizzard, which is the producer of high-profile titles like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch–and it is filled with hair-raising accusations of violations, ranging from harassment by top executives toso-called “cube crawls” where male employees would reportedly “drink huge amounts of alcohol while they “crawl` their way through various cubicles in the office and are often seen engaging in inappropriate behaviors towards female employees.” It exposes a culture where double standards prevented women from making advancements or even remaining in the company. Across the board, it sayswomen earn less than men for “substantially similar tasks.” The agency alleges that female employees receive a lower start-up pay than male employees and are promoted slower. Activision Blizzard has only 24 percent female employees. The top leadership team is largely white and male.
In this “frat boy” culture, the complaint reads, men “proudly” arrived at work with a hangover, delegated duties to women while they played games such as Call of Duty, openly engaged in sexual conversations, and even joked about the possibility of rape. It also claims that female employees were sexually harassed by their supervisors and colleagues. It claims that a female employeewho was subjected to workplace harassment, such as when coworkers at a party were allegedly sharing a private photo of her, and later took her own life. (In an announcement, Activision Blizzard says, “We are disgusted by the unacceptable behaviour of the DFEH to drag into the case the tragic suicide of a worker whose death is not a factor in the matter, and with no consideration for the grieving family of her.”)
Activision Blizzard spoke out saying they are committed to diversity and are working hard to create an environment where everybody is welcomed. “There is no place in our business or industry, or any industry, for sexual misconduct or the harassment of any kind. We take every allegation seriously and thoroughly investigate all allegations. “In cases of misconduct it was decided to take action to remedy the issue.” The business claims that it has put in efforts throughout the years to increase diversity. This includes helping employees report violationsand creating a confidential hotline, and making a team of investigators to address concerns of employees. Activision Blizzard claims that the DFEH complaint contains “distortedand in many cases false, descriptions of Blizzard`s previous history.”
DFEH seeks relief from compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorneys` fees and unpaid wages. As part of the ongoing investigation the department did not respond to WIRED`s request for comment.
The revelations of Activision Blizzard echo those of Riot Games (2018) and Ubisoft 2020. Gaming companies who were accused of encouraging sexism in gaming also have been slow to adjust.
It takes active, serious, and concerted effort to reset cultural standards defined by male gamersand stop offensive or damaging behavior to women and minorities. Missing checks and balances have made that tough at these massive, often cult gaming firms. Former and current employees of Ubisoft and Riot Games and Activision Blizzard have all shared how their HR and executive managers were hesitant to raise alarm bells or didn`t bother to listen. The Activision Blizzard complaint alleges that when employees did speak to human resources, they were sometimes confronted with retribution–deprived of work on projects, unwillingly transferred to other units, or being deemed unfit for layoffs. (In an email yesterday obtained by Polygon responding to the DFEH complaint, Activision Publishing president Rob Kostich urged employees to speak to their HR team or manager to seek help if they require assistance.)
In a civil lawsuit, a few Riot Games employees claimed they, too, suffered Retribution from managers they complained about in HR sessions they believed were private. Ubisoft`s interim HR head HR was the one who allegedly choked his female subordinate. According to a Bloomberg report, other women who reported problems to that HR head were “labeled as troublemakers.” One Ubisoft worker interviewed by Kotaku said: “The way the studio–HR and management–disregards complaints just enables this behavior from men.”
Executive leadership hasn`t been accountable for their potential lack of accountability. Two and a quarter years after an Kotaku report about widespread gender sexism in Riot Games — including discrimination based on gender in promotion and hiring–CEO Nicolo Laurent, who was accused of misconduct which he deniedwas still in the employ of several employees who were accused of sexual harassment and harassment, insisting that an internal probe dismissed them. One later left. One of the accused problematic executives was fired. Bloomberg was earlier informed by Ubisoft that employees being investigated will not be permitted to remain in Ubisoft until the results of the investigations are determined.
It`s not clear which way Activision Blizzard cleaned up its ranks. The DFEH suit claims that one employeewho was World of Warcraft`s creative director made a number of female employees uncomfortable during the company`s BlizzCon conference. He even had the conference in a room that employees referred to as”the “Crosby Suite,” apparently an incorrect reference to Bill Cosby. While Activision Blizzard president J. Allen Brack was allegedly aware of the behaviour, according to the suit, the employee was not properly disciplined and “continued to make unwelcome advances” to female colleagues, before disappearing from Blizzard in the year 2020. Activision Blizzard has not publicly detailed any specific disciplinary actions implemented in response to the conduct described in the DFEH report.
There is some pattern. Riot, Ubisoft, and now Activision Blizzard all reportedly suffered from squeaky-wheel human resources processes and a tendency to shield the top employees from accountability. Activision Blizzard has now responded to the accusations made public. The company is using the same procedure as its peers. It is a mix of the ham-fisted denial and embarrassment, without even a indication of regret.
Riot Games initially maintained in 2018 that Kotaku`s claims about sexual harassment were “explicitly contrary” to its values. A few weeks later, the apology was issued in a blog post written by Riot Games “We`re sorry.” We`re sorry. Riot wasn`t always — or wasn`t always — the place that we promised. And we`re sorry it took us so long to get us to hear you.”
Riot would fire other problem employees. It also promoted more women. It employed culture experts and strengthened D&I. The company is in the process of settling with the DFEHand the DFEH, which is believed to amount to hundreds of millions in legal and backpay. The head of HR for Ubisoft was among many top executives who resigned in the wake of allegations of misconduct. Ubisoftwas initially expressing slightly more remorse, tells WIREDthat it has instituted employee trainings, rethought HR, and strengthened its diversity and inclusion programs. At the same time, Bloomberg says that Ubisoft has seen some decline, in part because of its inconsistent, often dismissiveresponses to accusations of discrimination against women.
It is unlikely that anyone will admit to having illegal workplace practices when facing legal action. Activision Blizzard may be able to learn from Riot and Ubisoft about their past. Fran Townsend, George W. Bush`s homeland security advisoracting as Activision`s chief compliance officer. Townsend wrote an email to staff today. The email was first reported by Axios. Townsend said that she was thrilled to be part of a firm that has the strictest approach to abusive or hostile workplaces as well as sexual harassment concerns. This message is in line with Activision Blizzard’s initial statement that DFEH`s methodology included “irresponsible actions of not accountable State bureaucrats” that are driving several of California`s most prominent businesses out of California.
Everyone`s eyes are focused on Activision Blizzard. It seems to be following the pattern of Riot and Ubisoftin responding to allegations of systemic sexism both internally and externally as issues of publicity. Both concentrate on the performance and productivity of the companyand employees, not the harm they cause. This is a major reason why internal problems can become worse.
