Earlier this month, Activision Blizzard was asked to introduce some version of the Rooney Rule, a policy that requires employers to interview different candidates during the appointment, according to a new report from Motherboard. Lawyers for the massive publisher behind Call of Duty and World of Warcraft replied that such a policy “would be an unworkable infringement on the ability of the company to run its business.” ‘
The largest federation of unions in the country, the AFL-CIO, which also happens to be a shareholder in Activision Blizzard, submitted this proposal to the SEC. In the report, obtained by Motherboard, the organization wrote that the introduction of a policy similar to the Rooney Rule (a 2003 NFL policy aimed at addressing the lack of diversity among coaching staff) would increase workforce diversity by requiring the initial pool candidates from which new employees by the Company will include, but need not be limited to, qualified women and minority candidates. ”
Motherboard reports that future shareholders’ meetings could be voted on to approve the proposal, but Activision Blizzard is trying to get the SEC to intervene to prevent that from happening.
‘While the company implemented a Rooney Rule policy as intended [for director and CEO nominees], the implementation of a policy that will extend such an approach to all leasing decisions amounts to an unworkable breach of the company’s ability to manage its business and to compete for talent in an extremely competitive, fast-moving market, ‘ advocates of the company in a letter to the SEC obtained by Motherboard.
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Activision Blizzard and the AFL-CIO did not immediately respond to a request Kotaku for comment. A spokesman for the gambling company said Motherboard it has invested in scholarships and mentoring programs to ‘develop the best and brightest future talent’.
“Our talent is the lifeblood of Activision Blizzard,” the spokesman said. “We appreciate the diversity of the Activision Blizzard community and understand that our employees and players come from a wide variety of backgrounds. To deliver epic and engaging entertainment for a diverse, growing global audience, our staff members must reflect these communities. ”
The AFL-CIO sent a similar proposal to Electronic Arts, of which it is also a shareholder, Motherboard reports.
“In accordance with our standard procedures, the board of directors will consider the shareholders’ proposal,” a EA spokesman said Kotaku by email on the question of whether he is willing to institute his own Rooney Rule across the entire enterprise.
“The Council is committed to maintaining rental practices that promote inclusion and diversity at EA,” the spokesman wrote. “More broadly, EA believes that a diverse and inclusive workforce is the key to our success. It fosters our creative culture and enables us to create amazing games and experiences for millions of players around the world. EA is committed to attracting diverse, dynamic talent – prioritizing inclusive values and practices at every step of the employee journey. ”
The video game industry has long been criticized for being dominated by white men, especially in management positions and c-suite positions. Last June, at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests over police murder of George Floyd, many gaming companies released statements of support for the calls of the movement for justice and racial equality, but few support this conspiracy with specific commitments to address problems within their own walls.
“Today and always we support all those who oppose racism and inequality,” Activision Blizzard said. tweeted at the time. ‘There is no place for it in our society or in any society. Black lives matter. “
However, the company declined to comment. Kotaku in June on any specific steps he has taken to promote equity and diversity within his own ranks. A few weeks later, Activision Blizzard donations of $ 3 million announced to the United Negro College Fund, Equal Justice Initiative and Management Leadership for Tomorrow, but nothing further.
EA was a little more reflective.
“Racial justice is important,” the company wrote on his website during the protests. “We have long held equality, inclusion and diversity at the heart of our belief in Electronic Arts.”
EA has announced that it will contribute $ 1 million to the Equal Justice Initiative and the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund jointly, giving employees an extra holiday each year to volunteer in their communities, hold Juneteenth an industry holiday and To hold a “Conversation Company”. ‘to discuss how to’ focus ‘the efforts to make an impact on prejudice, discrimination and injustice in today’s world.’
It is also published its first annual Impact Report last November which contains a section on the demographics of the company. Of the 9,800 full-time employees, 54.6% were white, 22.3% were Asian, 8.2% were Spanish or Latinx and only 3.2% were black. Less than a quarter were women.
“While we have made some progress, we are committed to providing even more representation in our company,” said CEO Andrew Wilson. wrote in the report.
Update – 5:45 PM ET, 27/27/21: A spokesperson for Activision to which Blizzard responded Kotaku with the following statement.
Activision Blizzard is committed to inclusive hiring practices and to creating a diverse workforce; it is essential to our mission. Vice mischarged the SEC filing filed by outside attorneys. In fact, our hiring practices are rooted in ensuring diversity in all roles. We participate aggressively and successfully in this. Our objection was based on the fact that the AFL-CIO proposal did not adequately consider applying these practices in all the countries in which we operate.
Our games have had a unique impact on popular culture and have helped to increase tolerance and inclusion through their connectivity, as well as the heroes we portray, and our stories that celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion in so many powerful ways.
To ensure that our games stay true to our mission – to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment – we require that all candidates of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, races and sexual orientations be considered for each open role word. We are aggressively recruiting diverse candidates so that the workers provide the inspired creativity needed to meet the expectations of our diverse 400 million players in 190 countries. We remain committed to increasing diversity at all levels throughout Activision Blizzard worldwide.
Activision Blizzard did not immediately elaborate on what not Motherboard The AFL-CIO’s proposal on the SEC filing was reportedly rejected.