Private Doctor's Removal Ignites Union at Candy Crush Developer

In early 2024, Activision Blizzard, now under Microsoft's ownership, sent an email to employees at its Stockholm office announcing the end of a popular company benefit. This decision inadvertently sparked a union effort among the staff. Last fall, over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm location formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. This group has been recognized and is now in dialogue with company management, aiming to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to govern their work environment, policies, and benefits.

In Sweden, unions operate differently than in the U.S. Eligible workers can join a trade union at any time, regardless of their company's organization status. Approximately 70% of the country's workforce is involved in a trade union, and Swedish laws are generally more union-friendly. Trade unions negotiate sector-wide conditions like salaries and sick leave, and individual membership can offer additional benefits. However, forming a union club and securing a CBA allows employees to negotiate company-specific benefits and gain representation at higher levels of management, a trend seen in other Swedish gaming companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.

The Doctor is Out

Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King in Stockholm and a board member of King Stockholm's Unionen chapter, shared that prior to 2024, union discussions were minimal. A Slack channel for union members existed but was largely inactive, with only about nine or ten members. However, in early January, an email from management announced the termination of a highly valued benefit: a free, private doctor for employees and their families, a service that had been introduced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This doctor, reportedly selected by then-CEO Bobby Kotick, was highly appreciated for her responsiveness, support during the pandemic, and empathy towards employees' health needs.

The sudden removal of this benefit, announced just a week before its end, left employees scrambling for new healthcare options. Although offered private health insurance as a replacement, Falck noted that it lacked the personal touch and effectiveness of the previous service. This change sparked widespread discussion among employees, leading to a surge in union interest. The union Slack channel quickly grew to 217 members, and by October 2024, the group voted to form a union club with a union board at King Stockholm.

No Gods, Only King

Since its formation, the King union has engaged with Activision Blizzard HR to establish communication protocols. Falck described the company's response as "neutral," aligning with Sweden's legal protections for unions and Microsoft's public commitment to a neutral stance on unions. While the private doctor benefit cannot be reinstated, the union aims to secure a CBA to protect other valued benefits from similar abrupt changes.

Falck emphasized the importance of protecting unique benefits and ensuring employee influence over workplace changes. Other potential negotiation points include salary transparency, information sharing, and protections around reorganizations and layoffs. Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak highlighted the value of unionizing in giving employees a voice in workplace matters, which is crucial for understanding and advocating for their rights, especially in industries with many immigrant workers.

The union's efforts have already begun to educate employees about their rights, particularly beneficial for the diverse workforce at King, including European and American game developers. For Falck and her colleagues, the union club's formation was a response to an unpopular change, but its broader purpose is to safeguard the aspects of their job and company culture they cherish.