GWUI-FSU publish survey results conducted in Activision Blizzard

Lack of pay transparency and career progression key highlights from survey.

The game workers branch of Financial Services Union has published the results of a survey it carried out in Activision Blizzard, an American video game holding company which was recently bought over by Microsoft. Activision and Blizzard, which merged in 2008 is based out of East Point Business Park in Dublin. Microsoft has recently committed to ‘creative and collaborative approaches with unions when employees wish to exercise their rights’ to organise a trade union. This is an important commitment in the tech sector extending to Microsoft owned companies like Activision Blizzard and extending to employees all over the world including in Ireland.

Commenting on the survey results Gareth Murphy, Head of Industrial Relations and Campaign with the FSU said:

“The survey concentrated on asking employees what their main workplace issues are and also how they think the acquisition of the business by Microsoft will affect them.

On the acquisition, workers are concerned this may lead to job losses and redundancies and by far the two most significant workplace challenges identified by  employees was the lack of pay transparency and career progression.

Staff want to see pay ranges published by role, and roles clearly graded in the company with more promotional opportunities and better pay prospects.

In addition to these items, stress and a negative management style were also highlighted as concerns.

The FSU have written to the company to start the discussion process on how these matters can be resolved.”

ENDS