Private Doctor's Removal Ignites Union at Candy Crush Developer

In early 2024, a significant change at Activision Blizzard's Stockholm office, now under Microsoft's ownership, inadvertently spurred a unionization effort. The catalyst was an email sent to employees announcing the termination of a highly valued company benefit: a free, private doctor service, which had been particularly appreciated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This unexpected news, coupled with the short notice period, prompted over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm location to form a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, in the fall of the previous year. The group, now recognized by management, is working towards securing a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to safeguard their work environment, policies, and benefits.

In Sweden, union membership differs from the U.S. model, with around 70% of the workforce involved in trade unions, which negotiate sector-wide conditions like salaries and sick leave. Employees can join unions at any time, and if enough workers join the same union at a company, they can vote to establish a union board to negotiate a CBA. This agreement can provide additional workplace-specific benefits, similar to U.S. union contracts, and give local union boards a voice in company decisions. This trend has been observed at other Swedish gaming companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.

Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King and a board member of the Stockholm Unionen chapter, shared that union discussions were minimal before 2024. However, the sudden loss of the private doctor benefit, which was highly valued and seen as a personal touch during the stressful times of the pandemic, galvanized employees. The doctor, reportedly selected by former CEO Bobby Kotick, was not only efficient but also empathetic, making her an integral part of employees' lives.

The announcement of the benefit's removal, shortly after Microsoft's acquisition, came with only a week's notice, forcing employees to quickly seek alternative healthcare options. The offered replacement, private health insurance, was seen as a downgrade. Falck noted, "You have to go through a portal and you have to talk to a nurse every time you want to get an appointment for something. So it's not that personal experience of having a doctor, like a proper person that cares for you, and wants the best for you, and puts you on sick leave if you're feeling burnt out. She [the private doctor] was a godsend."

The dissatisfaction led to increased union activity, with the previously quiet union Slack channel suddenly gaining 217 members. This surge in interest led to the formation of a union club and a union board at King Stockholm by October 2024. Since then, the union has engaged with Activision Blizzard HR to establish communication channels, receiving a neutral response, which aligns with Microsoft's public commitment to a neutral stance on unions.

While the private doctor benefit cannot be reinstated, the union aims to protect other valued benefits through a CBA. Falck emphasized the importance of having agreements to prevent unilateral changes by the company, especially given the unique benefits at King, such as bonuses and other perks from Microsoft. Other key issues include salary transparency, information sharing, and protection during company reorganizations and layoffs.

Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak highlighted the Swedish model of unionization, which focuses on both parties having influence and discussing matters at the table. This approach allows employees to share insights into daily work, which is invaluable for management. Rybak also noted that Swedish labor laws favor employers, making unionization crucial for employees to understand and protect their rights, especially in industries like game development with a high number of immigrant workers.

Falck pointed out that the union has already benefited from sharing information on employee rights, helping many European and American game developers at King understand their entitlements. The unionization effort, initially a reaction to an unpopular change, aims to protect the aspects of King that employees cherish, including its culture and benefits.