The quality assurance team behind Activision’s popular video game Call of Duty has begun a strike against the company’s policy. According to reports, the team, which also worked on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, is protesting the company’s return-to-office policy.
The team’s resolution is also being backed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The workers expressed frustration because the recent policy was affecting their remote work living conditions.
Activision’s Call of Duty QA staff protest return-to-office policy
Earlier in the year, Activision announced its decision to end remote work for its quality assurance team. With the announcement, the company set a strict return-to-office policy for the affected workers. The company told the workers to resume at Eden Prairie, its studio based in Minnesota.
During the time, Activision’s largest union noted that the move seemed like a soft layoff. This is because workers with disabilities and accessibility needs were bound to have issues moving to and from the physical office. The issue reached head past on Friday, the day the company released Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Activision’s employee advocacy group ABetterABK, backed by CWA, commented that the policy is unfair to handicapped workers and employees who need to work from home. CWA also added that Activision ignored recommendations from doctors regarding workers with medical conditions that require them to work from home.
ABetterABK also mentioned that the company’s refusal to consider flexibility is creating tough working conditions while also putting some employees at risk.
Internal email aggravates anger within the company
The gaming company recently sent an email to its workers, aggravating the anger of the quality assurance team. In the email, the company sent its best wishes to workers with disabilities, celebrating them on the special day.
The email had a graphic of a disabled individual working remotely. ABetterABK said Activision was doing the opposite of what it was preaching by refusing to agree to flexible work plans for workers with disabilities and health conditions.
The quality assurance team was also involved in the creation of Activision’s most successful game to date: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. In its statement to Eurogamer, Activision did not clarify if the directive was for some of its employees and not all of them.
The company’s spokesperson noted that the company is currently holding an interactive session with some of its employees with concerns. According to the statement, the company is looking for ways to provide accommodations to those with issues. However, the company has yet to give an update on any changes regarding the policy.
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