Activision Blizzard Letter Claims Company Made 20 Firings Amid Harassment Claims
After being cast into the public eye for allegedly adopting a "frat boy" culture in the workplace, including harassment and sexualisation of women, Activision Blizzard has now reportedly admitted to firing 20 employees amid the lawsuits.
The gaming giants behind the Call of Duty, Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush Saga franchises have been subjects of multiple lawsuits as a result of the discrimination allegations, including one from the Californian government.
Originally, the lawsuit saw thousands of members of the company hold a walk-out protest, as the "tone-deaf" responses from the company only worsened the situation.
Since, Activision has taken a range of steps to combat their deep-rooted "frat" environment, taking necessary steps to remove influential employees and their memories from in-game references.
According to reports, Activision has now admitted to firing 20 employees as a result of the lawsuit and will continue investigating a further 20, as noted in a company letter that circulated on Tuesday.
Activision Blizzard: Who Has Left The Company?
As reported by the Financial Times, the $60billion company have removed the employees in a bid to make Activision a "more accountable workplace", although the number detailed in the letter is reported to not include "any members of the senior management or board".
Previously, some members of the company in senior management positions left the company amid the lawsuit, namely Jesse McCree, a former Lead Game Designer. Alongside his removal, amongst others, Activision opted to remove the character "McCree" from Overwatch, removing his signature from players' memory. The same action was also taken in World of Warcraft, where elements of the map was renamed following exits of other designers.
Activision Blizzard: What Else Was In The Letter?
Within the letter on Tuesday, Activision also reportedly detailed that they will be expanding their Ethics and Compliance team, adding 19 full-time roles. The letter allegedly read, "Two of these roles will be specifically dedicated to overseeing investigations related to the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) and APAC (Asia Pacific) regions."
Activision employees are also encouraged to continue to anonymously report any violation of the policies, including those that were common in the 'frat boy' culture, as they take a "zero-tolerance" stance against harassment.