Activision Blizzard establishes special committee to improve work atmosphere

Activision Blizzard announced Tuesday that it would set up a special committee. The committee must ensure that the new policy to combat discrimination and intimidation in the workplace is properly implemented. Employees and shareholders demand the resignation of the CEO.

Activision Blizzard’s announcement comes a week after an article in The Wall Street Journal revealed that CEO Bobby Kotick knew about discrimination and harassment in the workplace and was involved in it. According to the company, the committee must ensure that new procedures and policies to improve the culture at the company are properly implemented. The committee reports to the board and is independent, according to the company.

After the publication about Kotick, employees held a walk out and started a petition to remove the director from his position. At the facility in the city of Irvine in the US state of California, 150 employees laid down their work last week. The petition now has more than 1,800 signatures.

Not only employees are increasing the pressure on Kotick and the board, a group of shareholders has also expressed their views. They demand Kotick’s resignation and want the board to take measures to tackle the ‘frat boy culture’ at the company.

The games industry also criticizes Kotick and the work culture at Activision Blizzard. Sony CEO Jim Ryan has reached out to the game publisher to express concerns about the work culture, according to an internal memo. Xbox CEO Phil Spencer is also unhappy about the reports that are coming out about Activision Blizzard. According to Fanbyte, Nintendo’s Doug Bowser has also spoken out internally about the situation at Activision Blizzard.

In response to the article by The Wall Street Journal, Kotick has published a response in which he indicates that he does not recognize himself in the depicted image. Activision Blizzard’s board has expressed its support for Kotick as CEO.