Private Doctor's Removal Leads to Union at Candy Crush Developer

In early 2024, Activision Blizzard, now under Microsoft's ownership, sent an email to its employees in the Stockholm office announcing the end of a highly valued company benefit. This decision inadvertently triggered a unionization effort among the staff.

IGN has learned that over 100 employees at King's Stockholm location, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, last fall. This group has been recognized and is currently engaging with company management to negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will govern their work environment, policies, and benefits moving forward.

In Sweden, unions operate differently than in the U.S. Workers can join a trade union at any time, regardless of company-wide organization. Approximately 70% of Swedes are involved in trade unions, which negotiate sector-wide conditions like salaries and sick leave. Joining a union also offers minor additional benefits. However, forming a union club and securing a CBA at a company level can lead to workplace-specific benefits and representation in company decisions, a trend seen at other Swedish gaming companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.

Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King in Stockholm and a board member of the Unionen chapter, shared that union discussions were minimal before 2024. A dedicated Slack channel for union members saw little activity, with only about nine or ten members.

The turning point came in early January when Activision Blizzard employees in Stockholm received an email announcing the termination of a unique benefit: a free, private doctor for themselves and their families, a perk that started during the COVID-19 pandemic. This doctor, reportedly selected by former CEO Bobby Kotick, was highly valued for her responsiveness, support during the pandemic, and empathy. The sudden decision to remove this benefit, coupled with just a week's notice, left employees scrambling for new healthcare options.

King's office in Stockholm, Sweden. The replacement offered, private health insurance, was seen as inadequate. Falck explained, "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."

This change sparked widespread discussion among employees, leading to a surge in union interest. The previously quiet 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.

Since its formation, the King union has met with Activision Blizzard HR to establish communication channels. While the company's response has been neutral, in line with Swedish legal protections and Microsoft's public stance on unions, the union members are focused on securing a CBA to protect existing benefits. Falck emphasized the importance of having agreements to ensure employee influence over future changes, especially given the unique benefits King offers, such as bonuses and other perks from Microsoft.

Other issues on the union's agenda include salary and information transparency, protection during company reorganizations, and layoffs. Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak highlighted the value of unionization in providing employees a voice in workplace matters, which is crucial for understanding everyday work dynamics that are often unknown to upper management.

Falck noted that the union has already benefited employees by sharing information on their rights, particularly important for the many European and American game developers at King who may not be fully aware of their entitlements. The union's formation was initially a response to an unpopular decision, but its broader purpose is to protect the aspects of their job and company culture they cherish.