While the purchase process by Microsoft has been fuming for weeks, Activision Blizzard is facing various controversies more or less continuously. In addition to the cases of sexual abuse that have plagued the company, it was decided from the highest levels that remote work would begin to be a thing of the past, forcing the majority of workers to return to the company on a mandatory basis.
This decision provoked the anger of many workers, to such an extent that two QA testers have sued Activision Blizzard for having been unfairly dismissed after these protests. This has been pointed out by Kotaku, when reporting that the Communications Workers of America (CWA) has filed charges today against Activision, considering that it has violated labor laws in relation to the dismissal of these workers.
Two QA Testers Sue Activision Blizzard For Being Unfairly Terminated
The CWA notes that “numerous workers protested the plan (back to office) citing concerns about the cost of living and the impact it would have on their co-workers, who could be forced to leave their jobs”. But he also points out that «two QA Testers expressed their outrage using strong language. In response, management organized disciplinary meetings where both workers were fired.”.
Activision Blizzard agreed to pay $35 million to dismiss workplace misconduct charges
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As the CWA notes, the use of this type of language is regulated and protected by the US National Labor Relations Board, despite having systematically reduced workers’ rights after the Trump administration. The organization has noted that the charges have been filed directly against the company’s CEO, Bobby Kotick, alleging that the firings were carried out “in response to participation in protected, concerted and union activities”.
Finally, the CWA charges hard against Activision, since it considers that “for quite some time it has gotten away with treating its employees, especially QA Testers, as disposable workhorses. Firing two employees for joining their co-workers in expressing concerns about rush-to-office return policies is retaliation, point blank.”.