How the Removal of a Private Doctor Sparked a Union at the Developer of Candy Crush

In early 2024, Activision Blizzard, now under Microsoft's ownership, sent an email to employees at its Stockholm office announcing the termination of a popular company benefit. This decision inadvertently triggered a unionization effort among the staff.

Over 100 employees at King's Stockholm office, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, in the fall of 2023. This group has been recognized and is now in discussions with company management to negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will define their future work environment, policies, and benefits.

In Sweden, unions operate differently compared to those in the U.S. Workers can join a trade union at any time, regardless of their company's union status. Approximately 70% of Swedes are union members, and the country has laws that are more favorable to unions. These unions negotiate industry-wide conditions like salaries and sick leave, and individual membership can offer additional benefits.

However, forming a union club and securing a CBA at a specific workplace allows for more tailored benefits and a say in major company decisions, similar to U.S. union contracts. This is what the employees at King Stockholm are aiming for, following examples set by other Swedish gaming companies such as Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.

Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King Stockholm and a board member of the local Unionen chapter, shared that prior to 2024, union activity at the company was minimal. There was a Slack channel for union discussions, but it was largely inactive, with only about nine or ten members.

In early January, however, employees received an email announcing the end of a unique benefit introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic: a free, private doctor for employees and their families. This doctor, reportedly selected by then-CEO Bobby Kotick, was highly valued for her responsiveness, support during the pandemic, and empathy. The sudden loss of this benefit, with only a week's notice after the Microsoft acquisition, left employees scrambling for new healthcare options.

The replacement offered was private health insurance, but Falck noted it was inferior to the personal care they had received. This led to widespread discussion and dissatisfaction among the staff, prompting a resurgence in union interest. The union Slack channel quickly grew to 217 members, and by October 2024, the group voted to form an official union club with a board at King Stockholm. IGN reached out to Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King for comment but did not receive a response.

Since its formation, the King union has engaged with Activision Blizzard HR to establish communication protocols. Falck described the company's response as "neutral," consistent with Swedish union laws and Microsoft's public commitment to a neutral stance on unions. While the private doctor benefit cannot be restored, the union aims to secure a CBA to protect other valued benefits and ensure future changes are negotiated.

Falck emphasized the importance of protecting unique benefits and ensuring transparency in salary, information, and company reorganizations, especially regarding layoffs. The ultimate goal is to influence workplace conditions for the betterment of all employees. Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak highlighted that unionizing in Sweden is about both parties having a say in workplace matters, enhancing communication between employees and management.

Falck noted that the union has already facilitated the sharing of employee rights information, particularly beneficial for the many European and American game developers at King who may not be familiar with Swedish labor laws. This collective learning and advocacy empower employees both individually and as a group.

For Falck and her colleagues, the union effort started as a response to an unpopular change but aims to safeguard the aspects of their job and company culture they cherish. "It's just a completely different world and a different company that we're getting used to. So we want to protect what is King, what is the culture, what are the benefits," Falck concluded.