Bobby Kotick: Activision Blizzard 'Did Not Have a Systemic Issue With Harassment' - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 01 June 2023 / 2,136 Views
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick in an interview with Variety stated the company never had a "systemic issue with harassment" and that it has had a relatively low level of harassment and assault complaints for a company of its size. He says he will release a transparency report from outside entities that will provide exculpatory data.
“We’ve had every possible form of investigation done," said Kotick. "And we did not have a systemic issue with harassment — ever. We didn’t have any of what were mischaracterizations reported in the media. But what we did have was a very aggressive labor movement working hard to try and destabilize the company."
California’s Civil Rights Department filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard in 2021 alleging "women were subjected to constant sexual harassment, including groping, comments, and advances, and that the company’s executives and human resources personnel knew of the harassment and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the unlawful conduct, and instead retaliated against women who complained."
The complaints also say the company has "fostered a sexist culture and paid women less than men, and assigned women to lower level jobs than men."
Kotick added that he isn't anti-union, which unusual for a CEO of a large company.
"I am not like other CEOs that are anti-union," Kotick said. "I’m the only Fortune 500 CEO who’s a member of a union. If we have employees who want a union to represent them, and they believe that that union is going to be able to provide them with opportunities and enhancements to their work experience, I’m all for it. I have a mother who was a teacher. I have no aversion to a union. What I do have an aversion to is a union that doesn’t play by the rules."
Microsoft is attempting to acquire Activision Blizzard for $67.8 billion, which Kotick is set to make a small fortune from. The deal has been approved in South Korea, China, the European Union, Ukraine, South Africa, Japan, Chile, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Serbia. However, the deal is facing a block in the UK, which the two companies are appealing, and a lawsuit in the US.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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Activision blizzard has found no issues with Activision blizzard
Actually, Bobby Kotick thinks he is a great guy.
The problem is even if we entertain the idea that it was not "systemic", the instances that occurred were not properly addressed, the victims were unsupported until they publicly voiced their situation and the perpetrators were free to continue, again until the victims went public.
So I don't know what is Bobby's threshold for the systemic tag but to me, it appears he still oversaw a shitty workplace and especially so for women.
There is also the part where he says people are against him purely due to anti-Semitic reasons.
No, the labor movement tried to get YOU to realise that the company environment was already "destabilized"
I knew it! That sweet little innocent face could do no wrong. Who could have ever doubted? Insert any puking meme here *****.
...and come on bomb dude, don't be shy...
What a fucking lying cunt
What a shithead
"very aggressive labor movement" "I'm against unions that don't play by the rules" sounds very anti-union, anti-labor movement to me. Unions and labor movements are supposed to be aggressive to get better opportunities and work environments for their members and participants. CEO's that are anti-union will, by default, think that's "not playing by the rules"
AYAAAOH :D
"very aggressive labour movement"
You had people wanting to form unions and you absolutely hate that Bobby, because that means less control and money for you, just say that, instead of giving a long winded nothing burger speech.
Also stop blaming shit on your staff, the people you have slaved to CoD, or MT's on the Blizzard side of things.
