Sources say the company's culture favors a clan mentality and functioned under a broken HR department that undermined and discounted victims' experiences, and did not protect their identities.
Four current and former employees of Activision Blizzard described to Axios direct interactions with HR during the past decade in which they said representatives bullied, belittled, or showed skepticism after being informed of alleged harassment or assault.Employees who have gone to HR with complaints say the department had a reputation for doing nothing.
Broderick says when she reported the incident to HR, she was told that "it's not harassment. He didn't touch you." Broderick recalls another instance where an HR rep told her she was "acting like a brat," she tells Axios, adding she was told to "suck it up" and return to her desk.with the company for over five years tells Axios that after she was physically assaulted by one employee, her report to HR was met with instant skepticism.
When she spoke to HR again, however, a representative told her, "He's really sorry and he really wants to work at Blizzard. And he says that you were really friendly with him."Sources tell Axios part of the problem with Activision Blizzard's HR department was a seemingly high turnover rate. On some teams, representatives could be gone in as little as a few months, and some representatives seemed spread too thin, sources say.
Former Blizzard employee Andrew Buczacki says going to management with complaints had "a surprising lack of paper trail," or any transparency at all. "You're just sort of saying these things out into the void," he tells Axios.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Activision Blizzard Employees Talk about the Walkout and What Needs to ChangeWe talk to two employees of Activision Blizzard about the sexual harassment lawsuit, last week's walkout, the current mood of employees, and what changes they hope to see.
Read more »
Blizzard president is leaving amid harassment lawsuit against the companyBlizzard President J. Allen Brack is leaving the company, Activision Blizzard says, amid a lawsuit that alleges discrimination and sexual harassment against women at the company.
Read more »
Blizzard president departs as game maker faces labor lawsuitBrack came under intense scrutiny after a complaint was filed over his leadership style. He exits amid a cultural reckoning at Activision Blizzard.
Read more »
Biden administration expands eligibility for Afghan refugee programmeUS State Department says it is widening the scope of at-risk Afghans eligible for refugee status to include current and former employees of US-based news organisations, aid and development agencies.
Read more »
Blizzard President J. Allen Brack Exits Amid Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Allegations Against CompanyActivision Blizzard said that longtime exec J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment, is leaving the company. Brack’s exit comes less than two weeks after Activision Blizzard was s…
Read more »
Trump tries (and fails) to defend urging the Justice Dept to lie.MaddowBlog: What's amazing about the former president's response to the Justice Department revelations is that it failed to include anything resembling a denial.
Read more »