Ubisoft: Employees criticize anti-harassment policies

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Ubisoft employees criticize in an open letter that there is no effective action against harassment and discrimination. The reason for the writing are also the allegations against ActivisionBlizzard, which have similar things to the content.

The collective statements were preceded by long-simmering dissatisfaction with the Group's measures since last summer. In the letter, which, according to information from Eurogamer, more than 1,000 current or former employees have signed, the signatories first express their solidarity with the employees at ActivisionBlizzard. The events are presented as a problem for the entire industry. What is required is that real changes are made and those responsible are held accountable.

“Empty promises” from the CEO

After the revelations at Ubisoft, the company remained too much the same as before, the accusation reads: “We have seen nothing but a year full of friendly words, empty promises and the unwillingness to remove known perpetrators from the company”. Therefore, one no longer trusts the management to tackle the problem at the root.

For employees, it's not about “processes, focus groups, PR management or education” – because training is ignored by those who need it most – but essentially about setting clear signals. Only the most visible perpetrators were fired, the rest were only transferred or even promoted by Ubisoft and this several times, since further violations remained without consequences, it says in the letter. Both perpetrators and complicit parties should therefore be released.

It is suggested that employees have a say in how the situation is dealt with. This is coupled with the requirement for industry-wide standards for dealing with such cases. The participation of employees outside management and union representatives is desired. In this way, those directly affected should also have a say.

CEO bypasses requirements

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot indirectly denies these allegations in a reply. Guillemot highlights the commitment to “real and sustainable change at Ubisoft” and “important advances in the past year”, which include a reporting system, new guidelines and guidelines, training and new management staff. Guillemot offers the employees further opportunities for discussion in the form of “feedback sessions”, because freedom of expression is a “key for us,” writes Guillemot.

Guillemot does not address the demands and concerns with a single word. The signatories see it that way too. In a statement to GamesIndustry, they note that an offer to talk is not participation or collaboration. Ubisoft acts “hypocritically” when there are changes, but at the same time the perpetrators are protected by mere transfer to other positions of power.