Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick Outlines Company-Wide Changes Following Recent Controversy

Earlier this week, reports surfaced of Activision Blizzard being sued by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), following a two-year investigation into the company. Following the report, Activision Blizzard responded to the lawsuit claiming that it contained distorted facts. It led to backlash from former and current Activision Blizzard employees, who threatened to go on strike. Activision Blizzard CEO, Bobby Kotick sent out a company-wide email stating that the company’s response to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s lawsuit was “tone deaf.” He has promised organizational changes to address the issues raised by the employees.

Bobby Kotick’s response to employees

The Activision Blizzard CEO stated in his email that many people have reached out to the company and shared their thoughts and suggestions. He said that ensuring a “safe and welcoming work environment” is his highest priority and the company “will do everything possible to make sure that together, we improve and build the kind of inclusive workplace that is essential to foster creativity and inspiration.”

Activision Blizzard is working with law firm WilmerHale to conduct a review of company policies and procedures to ensure that it has the best practices to promote an inclusive workplace. The team working with Activision Blizzard is being led by Stephanie Avakian, who is a member of the management team at WilmerHale and was most recently the Director of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement.

The company has also asked employees who have had experiences that violated policies or have made them uncomfortable to reach out to the law firm. All information shared by existing and former employees will be kept confidential and no form of retaliation against potential victims will be tolerated. In addition to the changes in company policies, Activision Blizzard is also implementing the following:

Listening Sessions: The company will be creating “safe spaces” that will be moderated by third parties to help employees speak out and share ideas for improvement.

Personnel Changes: Managers and leaders are being evaluated across the company. Anyone found to have impeded the integrity of our processes for evaluating claims and imposing appropriate consequences will be terminated.

Hiring Practices: Bobby Kotick stated that he “sent an email requiring all hiring managers to ensure they have diverse candidate slates for all open positions.” The company will be adding compliance resources to ensure that hiring managers are adhering to the directives.

In-game Changes: Some of the in-game content is deemed inappropriate by employees and player communities, and it will be removed from the game.

Employees who signed an open letter to Activision Blizzard are yet to respond to Bobby Kotick's email. It remains to be seen if the grievances of former and existing employees are addressed by the company and if the organizational changes proposed by the CEO are adhered to.