Activision Blizzard has reinstated its mandate that all employees must be vaccinated. This happened barely a day after the company initially removed it. Management mentioned that it will also be phasing out work-from-home and that soon all employees would be expected to come to the office.
''Effective immediately, we are lifting our vaccine mandate for all U.S. employees", said an email by Acti Blizz exec Brian Bulatao. "Over the past several weeks, we've seen businesses and other indoor venues across the U.S. lift vaccine requirements, and we feel it is important to align our site protocols with local guidance. Over the past several weeks, we've seen businesses and other indoor venues across the U.S. lift vaccine requirements, and we feel it is important to align our site protocols with local guidance."
There was immediate backlash by employees, many of whom recalled stories of how cramped and poorly ventilated their offices were. They put up tweets saying that the entire office used to catch a cold or flu if even one person had it. Eventually, the ABetterABK Twitter account called for a company-wide walkout, scheduled to take place on April 4. The organisation had three demands: The company should reinstate the vaccine mandates, offer work-from-home as a permanent solution, and let each employee decide if they want to work from home or the office.
However, a new tweet by Jason Schreier mentions that Activision Blizzard has overturned its decision, and the vaccine mandates will now stay in place. "Following widespread backlash and a planned employee walkout, Bulatao just sent out another email to staff saying "we are still operating under a voluntary return to office opportunity" and that each of the three orgs can make its own decisions on vaccine "processes and policies"
Schreier goes on to mention that Blizzard boss, Mike Ybarra also emailed employees saying that they will need to provide proof of vaccination, at least for the next few months. Additionally, 80 percent of their employees in Irvine, Austin, and Albany have submitted proof of vaccination.
What's strange about all this is that Activision Blizzard has not yet put out a public statement regarding this, despite knowing that the news is public.