Activision Blizzard Contractors Receive Pay Bump And Expanded Vacation Time

Note: Activision Blizzard is still under investigation by the state of California for serious harassment charges.

Score another "W" for workers at Activision Blizzard. A new series of measures aimed at improving the lot of contract workers have been enacted, according to a Twitter post by Senior Test Analyst Jessica Gonzalez:

Today ABK workers are celebrating a huge victory for our contract workers. This is a result of collective action and there is more work to do! 🙌🏻💙 pic.twitter.com/PNJCTX0DbX

— Jessica Gonzalez 💙 For the Alliance! (@BlizzJess) November 9, 2021

While these are commendable measures, especially given the usual "replaceable" nature of contract workers (think QA), the replies to Gonzalez's post indicate that they still fall short of the failsafes accorded workers in many other parts of the world -- or even in the U.S. for those belonging to a labor union.

It's insane watching how bare minimum things are in the US. In Norway, we have legislated 20 days vacation no matter what, and if you're on tariff you have 25 days. Paid. Certain companies have 4x3 sick days a year. And some have up to 24 days of sick days a year. Unionize!!!

— Demiralos (@_demiralos) November 9, 2021

Numbered sick days ... that's just sooooo wrong ... unbelievable. Is this normal in the US? When i had an accident i couldn't work for nearly 10 weeks. First 6 weeks were fully paid by my employer. After that insurance paid 90% net salary. (minus insurances)

— Chris Kilmar (@ChrisKilmar) November 9, 2021

Still, it's a step in the right direction, and one that -- if I'm being perfectly honest -- I'm surprised came through as well as it did. As Magicman is fond of saying, "CEOs don't want to make most of the money, they want to make all of the money." Any concession on that front is nigh-miraculous and could open the door to further benefits down the road.