The State has opened up a discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit in California against Activision Blizzard Inc., most commonly known as Blizzard Entertainment — the creator of famous video games such as “World of Warcraft” and “Call of Duty.”
The State alleges a “frat boy” culture and a “breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women.” It continues on to explain that Blizzard facilitates an environment where employees face constant sexual harassment, few women are named to leadership roles and in the few instances that they are, they earn less salary and total compensation than their male counterparts. Other allegations include instances since 2019, when the company’s President, J. Allen Brack, was notified that employees in the Santa Monica office were leaving due to ongoing sexual harassment and sexism. Even the company’s human resources department had been contacted by employees. Yet, there had been no effective response according to various opinions. Just days ago, Brack stepped down from his position.
Significance of the Case
The case against Blizzard is quite notable partially because it is the first ever suit filed under a new state law that requires private employers with 100 or more employees to submit an annual report to the State with pay data for specified job categories organized by race, ethnicity and sex.
The Movement Gains Support from the Community
It is becoming very clear that many employees, not just those at Blizzard, are sick of the male-dominated, alleged non-inclusive, and alleged stereotype-ridden video game community. Nearly 500 present and former employees of Ubisoft, the publisher of the popular video game “Assassin’s Creed,” are taking a firm stance in solidarity with vocal employees at Blizzard. In an open letter, Ubisoft workers state, “It should no longer be a surprise to anyone…. that these heinous acts are going on. It is time to stop being shocked. We must demand real steps be taken to prevent them. Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.” The letter also demands that Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard and other publishers and developers work hand-in-hand to instate a “set of rules and processes for handling reports of these offences.”
Reach Out to Our Law Firm to Tackle Your Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Cases
The experienced sexual harassment attorneys at Makarem & Associates in California will handle your case better than any attorney out there. Their dedication, drive, and determination is sure to get you the outcome you deserve. Contact us today at (310)312-0299 or [email protected].
Sources:
https:// apnews.com/ article/activision- blizzard-walkout- brack- fed1287c94cfb3 0c3447ffe b7b89443f
