Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot shared the results of an internal survey today that suggests nearly a quarter of the company’s employees have either seen or experienced misconduct in the workplace. Guillemot explains that disseminating this information is a part of his goal to provide transparency during the ongoing investigation into allegations made earlier in the year. The letter also outlines several action items the company is planning to take to improve its culture, an initiative that Guillemot discussed after allegations of abuse surfaced earlier this year.
Earlier this summer, several people working for Ubisoft began to come forward with stories recounting egregious scenes of harassment and abuse. The company kicked off a major campaign in response to examine its internal structures and the conduct of its staff. Many employees in high ranking positions began to depart the company soon after, including editorial vice president Maxime Beland, who was a prominent member of the editorial team.
A letter which came directly from Ubisoft’s CEO, and was printed in full by GameSpot, detailed the results of a private survey given to Ubisoft staff. Around 14,000 employees responded anonymously to the survey, according to Guillemot. He explains that in addition to this, 2,000 employees attended special discussions, 1,200 spoke during the audit, and an outside investigation team conducted interviews and focus groups regarding internal issues at Ubisoft. The feedback coming out of these indicated the company needs to ensure a respectful work environment, devote more resources toward inclusion, put better HR practices in place, and hold more empowered team managers accountable for their actions. The survey found that 25 percent of workers have seen or experienced misconduct themselves, and 20 percent say they don't feel respected or safe in the workplace. It also surfaced that women were approximately 30 percent more likely to experience harassment than their male counterparts, and that number jumped to 43 percent for non-binary people.
The reminder of the letter addresses how Guillemot and management at Ubisoft plan to address these serious internal issues. These action items include introducing impartial reporting systems, implementing mandatory anti-harassment trainings, recruiting staff for positions like Head of Diversity and Inclusion, and restructuring the company. While the letter ends on an admission that major change does not happen instantaneously, Ubisoft’s CEO assures readers that the company is working towards these changes and that he will continue giving updates on the company’s progress. However, the company's previous responses to harassment allegations haven't put critics' minds at east. Ubisoft neglected to mention the ongoing issues within its walls at a recent Ubisoft Forward presentation, which raised concerns about how seriously it's actually taking its responsibilities to its staff.
This letter, though filled with expected corporate language, seems like a great reason for cautious optimism. It is true that Ubisoft has raised some red flags in the past few months by avoiding addressing issues for its showcase audience or greenlighting an unacceptable usage of Black Lives Matter imagery, but this letter seems to represent an undertaking that few others in the gaming space have attempted. Ubisoft opted to open a months-long discourse about its efforts rather than giving a quick, vague promise to look into things back when the story first broke. That is a promising practice, and one that the entire industry could benefit from.
Source: GameSpot