It is July of 2021, and the popular video game company known as Blizzard Entertainment has become a focus of the spotlight once more, but this time not for a massively successful video game property like Overwatch. The company is currently under fire for having allowed or enabled the exposure of certain parts of their workforce to discrimination, harassment, and horrible working conditions—mainly, these awful actions have been done to the women of the company, but also to employees who represent marginalized communities. Now, a lawsuit is being filed against Activision Blizzard because of the way it has developed a “frat boy” culture that has mistreated both women and individuals of minorities.
Why a Lawsuit Against Blizzard?
This isn’t exactly new. The lawsuit is actually the product of a two-year investigation by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. The evidence that has contributed to the lawsuit’s charge is even more horrific when examined, and it is recommended that all studying this case be made aware of the seriousness of the events leading up to this lawsuit:
- Women repeatedly denied promotions, raises, or equal pay—this is even despite some overperforming against their male colleagues.
- Women were overworked as male colleagues neglected their work.
- Lack of communication with female employees as male employees would restrict their communication amongst themselves.
- Women of color were being singled out and placed under increased scrutiny for their requested days off, asking for any help, taking breaks, and even questioned for their “body language”.
- Breastfeeding women were provided lactation rooms but were kicked out of them in the middle of breastfeeding so that the room could be used for a meeting.
- Women were subjected to groping and harassment from drunk male employees as part of a male employee group activity called a “cube crawl”.
- Male employees were reported to make public discussion of their sexual encounters and joking about rape.
- In the midst of all of this—female employees were discouraged from taking any of their harassment issues to Human Resources. Turns out, members of the HR team were also close to several of the harassers.
One of the worst stories of all was a female employee who committed suicide, allegedly because of a “sexual relationship she had been having with her male supervisor”. This suicide occurred during a company trip, where the male supervisor had brought sex toys along. The female employee had also been subjected to company-wide humiliation as male employees had spread photos of her genitals during a holiday party.
Change is Needed to Avoid Another Blizzard Event
What’s been happening at Blizzard Entertainment is just one of many instances where a video game company has allowed its women and minorities to be subjected to cruel treatment, all in the name of “bro culture”—as evidenced in the allegations against Blizzard, this treatment goes beyond just humiliation and economic mistreatment, it even leads victims to their deaths as they believe there’s no way out of the horror.
While the lawsuit will surely hurt Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Blizzard as a whole for a time, it will take more conversation to bring change to the rest of the video game industry. Another company that recently received backlash for its treatment of its female and minority workers was Ubisoft, another popular video game company that produces series such as Assassin’s Creed.
Find the Top Lawyers in Irvine with TopResearched
What’s happening with Blizzard Entertainment is part of a growing movement of accountability in the video game industry. There are many ways in which people get hurt every day, including the ways that women and minorities have been harmed in these detailed events. If you or a loved one should get injured, whether in an accident or in the workplace, you should never lose hope. There is a way to find reparation for what you’ve suffered! With TopResearched, you can find the best lawyers in the Irvine area to help with your injuries, so that you can reclaim what peace of mind you had lost before!
