California has just expanded its lawsuit against Activision Blizzard. The state's Department of Fair Employment and Housing are now adding in temporary workers to the full-time female employees that they are already representing in the lawsuit. The state also claims that Activision Blizzard actively interfered with their investigation.
This new report comes from Axios, whom have seen a copy of the amended complaint by the state of California. The amended suit says that "California's protections against anti-harassment, equal pay and other equal employment opportunity protections 'exist for employees and contingent or temporary workers'." The amended lawsuit has also changed the wording from "employees" to "workers."
California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) also alleges that Activision Blizzard interfered with their investigation in to the company through the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Activision Blizzard also reportedly told employees to speak with the company before contacting the DFEH. Even Activision Blizzard's involvement with WilmerHale seems to be a means of stifling the state's investigation into the studio.
The suit claims that this "directly interferes" with DFEH's ability to "investigate, prosecute, and remedy workplace discrimination and harassment violations on behalf of employees and contingent or temporary workers."
It alleges, in part, that "documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel" in violation of what it asserts is the game company's legal obligation to retain them pending the investigation.
It alleges, in part, that "documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel" in violation of what it asserts is the game company's legal obligation to retain them pending the investigation.
One worker said, "As a contract employee, I feel there's a lot of pressure to excel, impress, and move through the ranks as fast as you can before your contract ends and you're forced to go 3 months without income or find another job. I take pride in what I do, but it feels like it's never enough." Another worker says that they "suffer from stress" along with suffering from "physical ailments. We are overworked and underpaid across the board."
