Some current and former workers of Activision Blizzard have said that onsite labor is mandatory. Since businesses were compelled to offer remote labor during the COVID-19 epidemic, the pros and cons of such agreements have been hotly debated. Because they don’t have to spend as much time getting to and from work, employees appreciated the structure, but employers often voiced concerns about a drop in efficiency as a result of less oversight. A possible motivation for the change is the recent $35 million punishment levied against Activision Blizzard for its anti-whistleblowing policies.
Activision Blizzard has announced great revenue figures for the previous quarter, and the business is seeking to continue its success with recent releases like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which brought in $1 billion in the first 10 days after its debut. Even with the increasing complexity of the Microsoft takeover agreement, Activision Blizzard still has a huge year planned with games like Diablo 4 as well as a full yearly premium launch for the Call of Duty brand.
According to an Anonymous Source
An anonymous Activision Blizzard worker stepped forward, saying that the business had released an order telling everyone to come back to the workplace, and went on to explain how difficult it would be for many people who had relocated to return to their former positions. According to the anonymous worker, who goes by the moniker “LeastMyHairIsOk,” Activision Blizzard’s management was either “nefariously cognizant” of how this move would effect workers or “intentionally inept” when they cited “improved teamwork” as an explanation.
The timing of this report, in the midst of widespread redundancies in the IT sector, suggests that it may be seen as a type of widespread constructive dismissal. Personnel at Activision Blizzard may have to relocate themselves or their dependents in order to get back to the corporate, with the added stress of a longer commute and higher transportation expenses potentially canceling out any benefits of operating in an office setting. It’s going to be a tumultuous change, which might push back releases like Diablo 4.
Activision Blizzard has not issued a statement on the topic as of yet. The continuing multibillion-dollar Microsoft takeover transaction, which has been hindered by several regulatory authorities, has overshadowed news coverage of the corporation.
One can only hold out hope that common sense will win out and that the company’s management will listen to the numerous employees who are dedicated to their jobs. It’s no surprise that Activision Blizzard, despite the difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent mass evacuation of personnel to the home office, has experienced favorable financial outcomes on the stock market.
