Jessica Gonzalez, a senior tech analyst at Activision Blizzard, has announced her resignation on Twitter writing she's been "mentally wounded" from the fight for better work conditions at the company.
An Axios report calls Jessica Gonzalez "instrumental in employees' collective action efforts." Several Activision Blizzard employees credit Gonzales with efforts to push management for equal pay, zero tolerance towards sexual harassment, and organizing protests. Her resignation is being felt deeply by those still fighting the good fight.
"It's been a journey over the years, and I have made the decision to leave Blizzard by putting my wellbeing first," Gonzales wrote in an open letter. "I've accepted an opportunity that is too good to pass up. I'll still be moving into a senior quality engineering role for a financial tech company, and out of game development entirely."
Gonzales added she still stands with her former colleagues for "diversity, equity, inclusion, and workers' rights," and admits "there's a lot of work to do still and I am mentally wounded from this fight." Her last day is December 10.
The end of Gonzales’ letter was addressed directly to Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, who has come under intense scrutiny following a bombshell report from The Washington Post that accused him of ignoring internal reports of sexual harassment for years.
"Your inaction and refusal to take accountability is driving out great talent and the products will suffer until you are removed from your position as CEO,” wrote Gonzales. “This may seem harsh, but you had years to fix the culture and look at where the company currently stands."
Activision Blizzard has come under fire from all around the games industry after the California DFEH opened a lawsuit for what it called a "frat boy workplace culture" rife with abuse, particularly against female and minority workers. After The Washington Post reported Kotick's personal involvement with Activision Blizzard's toxic workplace, employees created an internal petition to remove him as CEO that gathered over 1,500 signatures. A Change.org petition has since grown to over 31,000 signatures.
Although former executives have suggested it, Kotick has not yet resigned.
Source: Read Full Article