In the fallout of several allegations of workplace misconduct and harassment, Ubisoft is taking several steps to reform its corporate structure to prevent further abuse. After several executives resigned for their role in the controversy, the developer also fired some of the alleged abusers and instituted company-wide changes to encourage change. While some Ubisoft staffers have said the company's efforts are good first steps, many expressed concern that these first attempts at reform may fail to bring lasting change.
In a recent Business Insider article, 12 current and ex-Ubisoft employees discussed their concerns with the higher-ups' response to the allegations. The media outlet also reviewed an internal document about the company procedure regarding sexual harassment last year. Although the exposé is locked behind a paywall, video game writer Meghna Jayanth released a Twitter thread with important quotes from the article and her own input on the situation.
According to the report, Canadian Ubisoft employees received an HR memo which told them to not go to a manager or HR if they faced sexual harassment, and that they should "talk to the harasser" instead. Thankfully, since the document's release in 2019, one Ubisoft vice president has resigned, and the company also placed another Toronto executive, Tommy François, on disciplinary leave and fired another employee.
However, one Ubisoft employee stated her concern that the studio's issues go beyond the behavior of any one executive. While the resignations are a "great start," she called on Ubisoft to "purge the studio" to truly change the company. To provide an example of the existing culture, the article pointed out an Ubisoft vice president's negative response towards media coverage of the recent allegation, but "not, apparently, by the alleged actions of his colleagues."
One former designer also added that while executive resignations eliminated the sense that harassers were "untouchable," many felt the company still has a long way to go. Although one employee said that they liked Yves Guillemot, they expressed concern that the Ubisoft CEO was willing to overlook toxicity from longtime employees out of loyalty.
Since investigations and meetings regarding the allegations at Ubisoft are ongoing, the video game community will have to wait to see how Ubisoft will continue working to make itself a safer place for all of its employees. Hopefully, Ubisoft will be able to resolve these cultural issues in a manner that grants its former employees some closure.