USA 
United Kingdom
Staff at a scandal-ridden video game maker are set to stage a walkout this week over health and safety concerns, after the firm dropped its vaccine mandate.
As first reported by Bloomberg, and later The Verge, Activision Blizzard staff plan to down tools today, April 4, in protest against the company’s decision to lift measures requiring all of its US-based staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
Reports first emerged of the change in policy after leaked internal messages from the firm’s Chief Administrative Officer, Brian Bulatao, were shared on social media by Jessica Gonzalez, a former Activision Blizzard employee and a Founder of A Better ABK (Activision Blizzard King), in a series of screenshots.
“Effective immediately, we are lifting our vaccine mandate for all US employees,” Bulatao wrote, explaining that the move was in response to many other US firms dropping their vaccine mandates in recent months, following a drop in infections. In the leaked email, Bulatao also spoke about “the benefits of in-person collaboration”.
However, Gonzalez tweeted angrily in response, saying: “I’m sure the ‘benefits’ of in person collaboration is actually so employees organizing can be followed and monitored closely. Do not die for this company.”
The company, which produces popular video games such as World of Warcraft, Candy Crush and Call of Duty, has still not launched a full-time office return and is currently operating a voluntary return-to-office scheme, according to The Verge. Nevertheless, the decision has sparked anger and concern among employees.
A spokesperson for the ABK Workers Alliance told gaming website Polygon: “As part of returning to office, Blizzard and Activision Blizzard held several feedback sessions and polls over the course of three months, at the end of which they decided to mandate the vaccine for workers coming into office.
“This was the agreement under which people agreed to come back. This recent change was not run by any employees before being announced.”
As a result of the change in vaccine policy, the A Better ABK group announced its walkout plans, issuing three demands to the company at the same time:
An immediate reversal to lifting the vaccine requirement
Remote work should be offered as a permanent solution
The decision to work remote or in office should be made by each individual employee
Due to the new RTO policy around no longer mandating vaccination requirements in regards to the ongoing pandemic, a group of ABK employees will be conducting a walkout on Monday April 4 at 10am PDT. We have 3 demands:
— ABetterABK
Kelvin Liu, a spokesperson for Activision Blizzard, told The Verge: “The health and safety of our employees is at the absolute forefront of everything we do, including our return to office policy. While Activision Blizzard’s U.S. vaccine mandate has been lifted, for the majority of our employees, we are still operating under a voluntary return to office opportunity.
“In addition, employees who are not comfortable returning to the office are encouraged to work with their manager and our HR team to explore options for working arrangements that suit their individual situations. We will continue to monitor conditions and make adjustments to the policy as needed.
“We recognize some employees may be participating in a walkout to express their views. The company supports our employees’ right to express their opinions in a safe and nonthreatening way, and will not retaliate for any decision to participate in this walkout. The company also hopes that those who walk out will conduct themselves in a legal, safe, and nonviolent manner.”
Firm’s controversial streak continues
It is not the first time in recent months that Activision Blizzard has courted controversy, nor the first time that staff have walked out as a result. In July 2021, around 350 employees walked out after the company was sued over allegations of sexual harassment, according to the Washington Post. In August, Blizzard President J Allen Brack announced he would be stepping down from his role, just days after being named in the lawsuit.
More than 150 later attended another walkout following allegations CEO Bobby Kotick was aware of sexual misconduct allegations at the company, according to Polygon.
‘No jab, no job’ policies
Activision Blizzard has joined the ranks of big firms dropping their vaccine mandates in recent weeks. In February, sportswear brand Adidas told its US-based workers they would no longer require vaccination as part of their employment terms, but the company said it continues to strongly encourage employees to get jabbed. Coffee shop giant Starbucks has also repealed its own vaccine mandate earlier this year.
However, data released in September 2021 revealed a massive 70% of HR leaders now require workers to have had both coronavirus vaccinations before they can return to in-person working.
According to the report published by Indeed Flex, the volume of jobs posting that require workers to prove their vaccination status skyrocketed by 116% between August and September 2021.
