Activision Blizzard accused of union busting, intimidating staff in complaint to watchdog Activision Blizzard intimidated its workers and illegally obstructed their attempts to form a union, a US watchdog was told today. The allegations were made in an unfair labor practices lawsuit submitted to the National Labor Relations Board by Activision Blizzard employees and the Communications Workers of America union. The …
Every large game company is a toxic employer. Many of the smaller ones are as well.
I know a few veterans who have been in the business for 30 years and every one of them say, do not work for a game company. They have only worked for themselves for the last 20 years and even though their credentials are amazing, they will never work for another game company again by choice.
Game companies are *famous* for dumping obscene workloads for minimum pay oh people, along with demands for obscene levels of overtime and a permanent ongoing "crunch" mentality.
I never have wanted to work for one of them nor for a startup. I'll take stock options when they're worth something, until then, I want cold, hard cash.
Game companies are *famous* for dumping obscene workloads for minimum pay oh people, along with demands for obscene levels of overtime and a permanent ongoing "crunch" mentality.
.
Some people here equate contributing to Open Source projects, giving labour for free as modern-day slavery. How much more gratifying to give labour for a small wage to capitalist bastards...
"A cross between a Star Chamber, the Gestapo policy executive group and a Soviet humanitarian agency."
I used to work for such a company. Their HR country used to say "HR job is to protect the company from employees"
With such a moto, not a surprise the place was toxic as hell.
Why is it each time I log into WOW I'm made to feel like I've done wrong? Seriously, each time I log in, up comes a pop-up explaining to me that I'm interacting with real people in the game, to mind what I'm saying and to respect the community. I have to click to agree and remove the screen invading pop-up. Is this to distract attention from the actions of the senior staff at Blizz? Is it do as we say, not as we do?
I would love for someone to tell me where in any US Federal law it states you have rights to a "more equitable, sustainable, and diverse workplace".
The law states, you cannot be discriminated against based on your race, ethnicity, etc, you cannot be harassed due to your sex! You do not have a right to demand equitability, sustainability nor diversity! If you want these things, buy enough stock in the company to become a significant voting stock holder.
Activision had/has a shitty work environment. OK I get that, and if you were sexually harassed, and have a provable case, fine, make the charge. But if your only complaint is its a shitty place to work, then GO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO WORK.
As far as Unions, why is it that an employer doesn't have the right to say "I will not have a union in my company!" There is no law that states every employer must have his employees represented by a union (unless Dementia Joe Biden gets his way).
"There is no law that states every employer must have his employees represented by a union "
True, but there is a "right to assemble", yet companies seem to think they can override this by doing everything in their power to stop the formation or joining of unions. Isn't "freedom" part of the constitution? If a majority of staff choose to join a union, and do so outside of "work", using no "work" resources, holding meetings away from "work" premises, why does do you think the employer has a right to even object, let alone actively discourage it even by legal means, let alone the illegal means referred to in the article?
Of course, for the employer, it's a "problem" because, even an unrecognised union has resources and can offer legal advice and resources to those employees who are members and provide support in employer/employee grievance procedures. Legal help which an individual might not be able to afford or even be aware of.
(I freely admit that not all unions are "nice", some have taken their power to the extreme with "closed shop" environments that can be just as toxic as employers hiring "union busters")
Activision was created because Atari would not allow the game designers to publish their name on the games and boxes and get credit for the game they created. In essence creating a company with focus on the employees and their worth.
Now Activision is acting like Atari. They should all be ashamed of themselves.
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2023
