Activision's Quality Assurance Team Protests New Mandate, Cites 'Soft Layoff' Concerns
Portfolio Pulse from Franca Quarneti
Activision's Quality Assurance (QA) workers are protesting a new return-to-office mandate by Microsoft Corp., which they label as a 'soft layoff.' The ABK Workers Alliance opposes the mandate, which affects QA employees in Minneapolis, Austin, and El Segundo, primarily working on 'Call of Duty.' Activision is offering severance packages to those who leave due to the mandate. The company cites improved efficiency for in-person work, but employees with disabilities or personal circumstances seeking remote work have faced denials or inadequate accommodations. This issue is part of ongoing tensions between Activision Blizzard and its employees, including a discrimination lawsuit in 2021.

December 19, 2023 | 9:23 pm
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Microsoft Corp. faces employee protests over a return-to-office mandate for Activision QA workers, which could impact employee morale and productivity, and potentially affect the company's public image.
The protests by Activision QA workers against Microsoft's return-to-office mandate could lead to negative publicity and potential disruptions in the development of key gaming titles like 'Call of Duty.' This may affect Microsoft's stock price negatively in the short term due to concerns over internal conflict and its impact on productivity and talent retention.
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