There are also discussions of damage payments.
Activision Blizzard accuses the agency of acting “shamefully and unprofessionally”
This is what Activision Blizzard says: The company has already issued a lengthy statement regarding the allegations. It states: The lawsuit contains twisted and often false representations of the past of Blizzard. They have worked closely with the agency and provided them with numerous documents, but the agency has refused to inform them of any problems they noticed.
The agency is obliged to attempt to resolve issues amicably with the company before turning to the court. The agency did not do this.
Activision Blizzard states: It makes them sick that the agency brings the tragic suicide of an employee into the case. It has nothing to do with it. Such behavior shows no respect for the grieving family.
Such behavior is described by Blizzard as “shameful and unprofessional.” Such irresponsible actions by officials ensure that some of the best companies from the state of California disappear.
The picture painted by the agency does not reflect the culture at Blizzard that exists today. In recent years, since the investigation began, significant changes have been made. They have invested a lot of work to create fair and attractive rewards and have strived to create a supportive, diverse, and inclusive workplace atmosphere.
Two years ago, we reported on a case at Blizzard on MeinMMO: A male employee had made serious allegations against a female supervisor:
Former employee says he was suicidal due to racism at Blizzard
Afrasiabi was the “Senior Creative Director” for WoW. He left the company in June 2020 without much fanfare.
“Tragic suicide on a business trip”
Further, the lawsuit states:
In a tragic example of sexual harassment that Activision Blizzard allowed, a female employee committed suicide while on a business trip she took with her supervisor, with whom she had a sexual relationship.
From the complaint
The police later discovered that this male supervisor had taken “Butt Plugs” and lube on the business trip. It is alleged that the woman had been targeted by sexual harassment prior to the trip: At a company party, a photo circulated showing the employee’s vagina.
Could the women not defend themselves? The Human Resources (HR) department of Activision Blizzard is another point of criticism in the complaint.
It is stated: Women who complained had to face negative consequences:
- They were transferred against their will
- they were targeted for layoffs
- they were denied opportunities for projects or other possibilities
It is stated in the complaint that women lacked trust in the HR department. It had not enjoyed a good reputation.
Some women also stated that their complaints were not treated confidentially by the HR department.
What is the goal of the lawsuit? The court should issue a temporary injunction requiring Activision Blizzard to address issues such as “unequal pay, salary adjustments, low wages for women” in compliance with applicable California law.
There are also discussions of damage payments.
Activision Blizzard accuses the agency of acting “shamefully and unprofessionally”
This is what Activision Blizzard says: The company has already issued a lengthy statement regarding the allegations. It states: The lawsuit contains twisted and often false representations of the past of Blizzard. They have worked closely with the agency and provided them with numerous documents, but the agency has refused to inform them of any problems they noticed.
The agency is obliged to attempt to resolve issues amicably with the company before turning to the court. The agency did not do this.
Activision Blizzard states: It makes them sick that the agency brings the tragic suicide of an employee into the case. It has nothing to do with it. Such behavior shows no respect for the grieving family.
Such behavior is described by Blizzard as “shameful and unprofessional.” Such irresponsible actions by officials ensure that some of the best companies from the state of California disappear.
The picture painted by the agency does not reflect the culture at Blizzard that exists today. In recent years, since the investigation began, significant changes have been made. They have invested a lot of work to create fair and attractive rewards and have strived to create a supportive, diverse, and inclusive workplace atmosphere.
Two years ago, we reported on a case at Blizzard on MeinMMO: A male employee had made serious allegations against a female supervisor:
Former employee says he was suicidal due to racism at Blizzard
The “California Department of Fair Employment and Housing” has filed a lawsuit against the gaming publisher Activision Blizzard. The lawsuit follows a two-year investigation. Activision Blizzard is alleged to have a culture like that of a fraternity: women are targets of constant sexual harassment and are paid unequally. The lawsuit describes some shocking situations, especially in the team for WoW.
Who is suing? The “California Department of Fair Employment and Housing” is a state agency tasked with protecting California residents from workplace discrimination. The agency has been led by a civil rights attorney appointed by the governor since 2014. It is the largest civil rights agency in the U.S.
Here is the background of the lawsuit: The agency states that they have investigated Activision Blizzard for over two years and subsequently initiated a mediation process to resolve complaints without going to court. However, during the mediation, they were unable to resolve the issues. Therefore, they are now turning to the court.
This is the main point of the lawsuit: The agency accuses Activision Blizzard of:
Sexism has plagued the male-dominated gaming industry for decades and has intensified in recent years. Women and girls now make up nearly half of all gamers in America, yet the gaming industry continues to cater to men, even in California.
Complaint against Activision Blizzard.
It is then stated that a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard is long overdue to prevent them from continuing to violate the civil rights and right to equal pay of female employees:
- Only white men currently hold top jobs at Activision Blizzard. This has always been the case.
- Few women reach senior positions in the company. And even those who make it to the top receive lower salaries and bonuses than their male counterparts.
- The inferior position of women runs throughout the company: women are paid less, given fewer opportunities, and are promoted more slowly.
- Activision Blizzard has created a work culture like that of a fraternity.
- Women are constantly sexually harassed at Activision Blizzard.
- Complaints from women about mistreatment are dismissed. They go unpunished.
The lawsuit comprises 29 pages (via aboutlaw) and was filed on July 20 with the “Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the County of Los Angeles”.
Men allegedly drink and party at work for Blizzard
The culture at Blizzard is reportedly so bad for women: There are several specific allegations in the lawsuit regarding “misbehavior by men”.
One example is a “Cube Crawl”, in which men drink a lot of alcohol and roam through the individual work cubes of the office. It is reported that they often harass women inappropriately during this time.
Men reportedly come to the office proudly hungover, then spend long periods gaming instead of working, drink alcohol while working, delegate their actual responsibilities and tasks to women, discuss their sex lives, comment on women’s bodies, and make jokes about rape.
An important developer of WoW, Alex Afrasiabi, reportedly hit on women during BlizzCon and told them he wanted to marry them. Afrasiabi allegedly tried to kiss them and put his arm around them. He was so notorious that his hotel suite was referred to as the “Cosby Suite”. Blizzard’s CEO, J. Allen Brack, reprimanded him multiple times for his drinking and behavior towards women but never took further action.
Afrasiabi was the “Senior Creative Director” for WoW. He left the company in June 2020 without much fanfare.
“Tragic suicide on a business trip”
Further, the lawsuit states:
In a tragic example of sexual harassment that Activision Blizzard allowed, a female employee committed suicide while on a business trip she took with her supervisor, with whom she had a sexual relationship.
From the complaint
The police later discovered that this male supervisor had taken “Butt Plugs” and lube on the business trip. It is alleged that the woman had been targeted by sexual harassment prior to the trip: At a company party, a photo circulated showing the employee’s vagina.
Could the women not defend themselves? The Human Resources (HR) department of Activision Blizzard is another point of criticism in the complaint.
It is stated: Women who complained had to face negative consequences:
- They were transferred against their will
- they were targeted for layoffs
- they were denied opportunities for projects or other possibilities
It is stated in the complaint that women lacked trust in the HR department. It had not enjoyed a good reputation.
Some women also stated that their complaints were not treated confidentially by the HR department.
What is the goal of the lawsuit? The court should issue a temporary injunction requiring Activision Blizzard to address issues such as “unequal pay, salary adjustments, low wages for women” in compliance with applicable California law.
There are also discussions of damage payments.
Activision Blizzard accuses the agency of acting “shamefully and unprofessionally”
This is what Activision Blizzard says: The company has already issued a lengthy statement regarding the allegations. It states: The lawsuit contains twisted and often false representations of the past of Blizzard. They have worked closely with the agency and provided them with numerous documents, but the agency has refused to inform them of any problems they noticed.
The agency is obliged to attempt to resolve issues amicably with the company before turning to the court. The agency did not do this.
Activision Blizzard states: It makes them sick that the agency brings the tragic suicide of an employee into the case. It has nothing to do with it. Such behavior shows no respect for the grieving family.
Such behavior is described by Blizzard as “shameful and unprofessional.” Such irresponsible actions by officials ensure that some of the best companies from the state of California disappear.
The picture painted by the agency does not reflect the culture at Blizzard that exists today. In recent years, since the investigation began, significant changes have been made. They have invested a lot of work to create fair and attractive rewards and have strived to create a supportive, diverse, and inclusive workplace atmosphere.
Two years ago, we reported on a case at Blizzard on MeinMMO: A male employee had made serious allegations against a female supervisor:
Former employee says he was suicidal due to racism at Blizzard
