[Dismas]

Guess Blizzard's about to go full SJW. Lots of people with pronouns in their Twitter handle are chiming in.

A group of Activision Blizzard employees is planning a "Walkout for Equality" on Wednesday to protest the feeling that "our values as employees are not being accurately reflected in the words and actions of our leadership."

The move comes in the wake of a California Department of Fair Employment and Housing lawsuit alleging widespread discriminatory practices at the company. It also comes after an official response from the company that thousands of employees have called "abhorrent and insulting to all that we believe our company should stand for" in a signed petition.

In a statement, walkout organizers said they're asking management to work with them to develop new recruiting practices, publish employee pay rates, and undertake third-party audits to improve staff diversity and prevent harassment. Currently, organizers write, "women, in particular women of color and transgender women, nonbinary people, and other marginalized groups that are vulnerable to gender discrimination" are subject to unfair discrimination in hiring, pay, and promotion and suffer from harassment from other employees.

The walkout group also seeks "an end to mandatory arbitration clauses" that "protect abusers and limit the ability of victims to seek restitution." That statement echoes a core demand of 150 Riot Games employees who walked out in 2019 after the League of Legends maker tried to use arbitration to settle a 2018 employees lawsuit over sexual harassment and pay disparities. The case was later settled out of court without the use of arbitration.

Read More: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/07/a...-equality/

[Accident Man]

When was the last time Blizzard went a year without some major PR nightmare? They are a great example of how money and name power make you insuperable.

[Dismas]

When was the last time Blizzard went a year without some major PR nightmare? They are a great example of how money and name power make you insuperable.

Sure the allegations are scummy, but it's not surprising that their culture is closer to that of a college fraternity. Their profession is to make video games for 15-25 year old men.

My only hope is that they tell employees to be more respectful to women and they continue to develop games the same as they have in the past.

[Miamoo]

It's a good suggestion that management should work with the organiser to develop new recruiting practices, publish employee pay rates, and undertake third-party audits to improve staff diversity and prevent harassment. Especially since it is alleged that women of color and other marginalized groups are ill treated and face gender discrimination in hiring, these should be looked into and an agreement should be reached by both the parties with minimum work disruption.