A group of Activision Blizzard employees calling itself the ABK Workers Alliance has rejected the company's decision to employ the law firm WilmerHale to conduct a review of the company's policies and procedures. In a letter shared with IGN, the group told CEO Bobby Kotick that his delayed response to employees following a lawsuit alleging widespread sexual harassment and discrimination at the company "did not meaningfully address" employee demands, and that WinterHale's pre-existing relationship with Activision creates a conflict of interest that means it cannot conduct an impartial review. pg slot game
Activision Blizzard was sued in mid-July by California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing over allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment, and a widespread "frat boy" culture at the company. The company's initial response to the claims sparked widespread employee outrage and a walkout that was widely supported by other industry employees.
A week after the lawsuit was filed, Kotick acknowledged that response was "tone deaf" and pledged a review of policies and procedures that would be carried out by WilmerHale. But employees are not satisfied with that choice of interlocutor.
"Activision Blizzard has already been a client of WilmerHale, who you used to dispute the Diverse Candidate Search Policy proposed by the AFL-CIO Reserve Fund and UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust earlier in 2021," the letter states. "[Activision Blizzard chief compliance officer] Frances Townsend is known to have relationships with multiple partners at WilmerHale, including former FBI Director Robert Mueller."