In an open letter to the employees of Activision Blizzard tonight, CEO Bobby Kotick addressed the company's initial response to the state of California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing lawsuit, saying it was "quite frankly, tone-deaf."
"I want to recognize and thank all those who have come forward in the past and in recent days," Kotick writes. "I so appreciate your courage. Every voice matters - and we will do a better job of listening now, and in the future. Our initial responses to the issues we face together, and to your concerns, were, quite frankly, tone-deaf."
For those out of the loop, the DFEH filed a lawsuit last week against Activision Blizzard that alleged the company was run with a "frat boy" mentality. The very next day, the company countered the DFEH by claiming California was falsifying information and giving a distorted view of what the company actually was. Angered by that response, a large number of employees took to social media to voice their disdain for Activision Blizzard's response. As of writing, over 2,500 employees have signed a letter condemning the response and a large number will be staging a walkout tomorrow in protest.
Finally addressing the situation, Kotick penned this letter and states the company will be implementing a few immediate changes. As he writes, Activision Blizzard will incorporate the following actions in support of its workers: additional employee support will be added to the Compliance and Employee Relations teams. Third-party moderated listening sessions will be available for current employees to suggest changes. All managers and leaders across the company will undergo an evaluation and if found to have impeded employee growth, will be terminated. Extra compliance resources will be available to hiring managers to ensure they are adhering to recent changes in hiring practices. Lastly, changes will be made to content in unspecified games that employees and players have deemed inappropriate.
In addition to that, Kotick states that he has asked the law firm WilmerHale to conduct a review of Activision Blizzard's policies and procedures to ensure that managers are doing their best to enforce and maintain the company's best practices. This work is said to begin immediately.
"Your well-being remains my priority and I will spare no company resource ensuring that our company has the most welcoming, comfortable, and safe culture possible," Kotick concludes the letter with. "You have my unwavering commitment that we will improve our company together, and we will be the most inspiring, inclusive entertainment company in the world."
Source: Activision Blizzard