Activision Blizzard Staff Due To Walkout “To End Gender Inequity”

This report contains details some readers may find upsetting.

Previously, Activision Blizzard was hit by a lawsuit after its staff raised multiple allegations of sexual misconduct within the company, in addition to other forms of harassment and toxic work culture. One such allegation involved the death of 32-year-old employee Kerry Moynihan who reportedly committed suicide on a work holiday retreat allegedly due to her experiences at the company.

Since then, discontent amongst staff has continued. Adding to the issues surrounding workplace conditions, Activision Blizzard was one of the first companies to scrap their work-from-home and mask-wearing mandate, much to the upset of employees. It now appears that Activision Blizzard staff are once again demanding change. This time, over the company’s healthcare policies.

Taking to Twitter, the ABK Workers Alliance - a group of Activision employees - announced the walkout as Activision Blizzard’s “current healthcare policies do not adequately protect the workers of ABK,” they wrote.

Activision Blizzard staff are concerned about how the recent overturning of Roe V. Wade will affect their health care rights and are calling on the company to step in. The ABK Workers Alliance wrote, “We are calling for protection of several communities of marginalised workers. Employees are actively facing state legislation that is putting women, LGBTQ+ employees, and their families at risk, with other vulnerable groups on the horizon.”

The group went on to say, “Our walk-out demands focus on the protections of ABK employees from external threats like the recent overturn of Roe V. Wade, and internal threats such as retaliation and harassment while in the workplace.”

“The presently offered $4000 reimbursements for out of state medical care currently leave employees open to legal prosecution in their home state. Travel reimbursements do not remove workers from imminent danger,” the ABK Workers Alliance stated. The walkout is scheduled to take place on 21 July, 2022.