Activision Blizzard workers to walk out in wake of sexual harassment lawsuit

Workers at the video game developer Activision Blizzard are planning to walk out Wednesday in the wake of a lawsuit against the company by the state of California alleging sexual harassment and discrimination. 

“We believe that our values as employees are not being accurately reflected in the words and actions of our leadership,” organizers said in advance of the walkout, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. PDT outside of Blizzard’s campus in Irvine, Calif.

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed the lawsuit against the company behind video game franchises such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft last week. 

The complaint alleges that the company has a “frat boy” culture that is a “breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women.”

Blizzard also allegedly assigned women to lower-paid and lower-opportunity levels at the company. Women allegedly received lower starting pay and earned less than male counterparts for “substantially similar work.”

The company has denied the allegations in the lawsuit, calling it “irresponsible behavior from unaccountable State bureaucrats that are driving many of the State’s best businesses out of California.”

Several thousand employees have reportedly signed a letter criticizing that response.

The organizers are demanding an end to mandatory arbitration clauses in employee contracts, policies to improve diversity, pay transparency data and a third-party audit of the company’s structure, according to The Verge.