An Activision Blizzard spokesperson has confirmed that the publisher will force employees back to the office, effectively ending remote work within the next four months. Employees from both Activision and Blizzard will soon be required to work in the office three days a week for “increased in-person collaboration and teamwork.” One outspoken employee, however, has called this RTO (Return to Office) policy an “ultimatum” that will cause many employees to quit.
Activision Blizzard believes RTO policy is “best for the business”
In a statement to Game Developer, Activision Blizzard will be asking Activision employees to return to the office on April 10 and Blizzard employees on July 10. The King Digital Entertainment division of the publisher has already gone back to five-day office weeks. The spokesman further says that this policy has been created “based on what’s best for the business and for the team.”
However, a Blizzard employee called LeastMyHairIsOk on Twitter who reported the news on February 13 believes that this policy will cause “a large reduction in force” if it occurs. They say that “the majority of employees at ABK have no interest in returning to office either full or part time.”
Apart from COVID concerns, this is because the reduction in gas and insurance costs from commutes, in addition to rising inflation across the board, have made remote work far more attractive. They claim that “for over a decade now, lower earning departments have pleaded with leadership to include yearly CoL (Cost of Living) adjustments” to prevent employees from leaving, but this has been denied.
Another user on Reddit named DrHilarious_PHD, who claims to work at Activision in QA, has apparently posted an internal HR email. The user also claims that the company has removed work from home options and that it is even denying this for people with disabilities. This has apparently prompted “a walkout of many employees today.”
A recent report says that Bobby Kotick will remain Activision Blizzard CEO even if the Microsoft merger is blocked. Earlier in February, Activision Blizzard was fined $35 million for a lack of workplace misconduct procedures.
