Private Doctor's Removal Triggers Union at Candy Crush Developer

In early 2024, a significant change at Activision Blizzard, now under Microsoft's ownership, sparked a unionization effort at its Stockholm office. An email sent to employees announced the termination of a highly valued benefit: a private doctor service, which had been a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision, made shortly after Microsoft's acquisition, led to an immediate backlash among the staff, who were only given a week's notice to find alternative healthcare solutions.

This abrupt change galvanized over one hundred employees at King, a mobile game developer owned by Activision Blizzard, to form a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, in the fall of 2023. The union club, now officially recognized, is in discussions with company management to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that would safeguard their work environment, policies, and benefits.

In Sweden, unions operate differently than in many other countries. Approximately 70% of the workforce is unionized, and joining a trade union is straightforward, regardless of a company's union status. Trade unions negotiate sector-wide conditions, but forming a union club and securing a CBA can lead to company-specific benefits and a stronger voice in company decisions, similar to what has been achieved 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 Unionen chapter, highlighted the impact of losing the private doctor benefit. Initially, union activities at King were minimal, with only a small Slack channel for union discussions. However, the removal of the doctor service, which had become integral to employees' lives, prompted a surge in union interest, swelling the channel to 217 members.

The newly formed union has engaged with Activision Blizzard's HR to establish communication channels, with Microsoft maintaining a neutral stance on unions, consistent with their public commitments. While the private doctor benefit is unlikely to return, the union aims to protect other unique benefits and negotiate a CBA that ensures employee influence over future changes.

Falck emphasized the importance of protecting existing benefits and ensuring transparency in salary, company reorganizations, and layoffs. Unionizing also serves as an educational tool, helping employees understand their rights, especially beneficial for the diverse workforce at King, which includes many international game developers.

The unionization effort at King is not just a reaction to a lost benefit but a proactive step to preserve the company's culture and benefits. As Unionen organizer Timo Rybak noted, unionizing empowers employees to contribute to workplace decisions, enhancing communication and understanding between staff and management. For Falck and her colleagues, the union represents a commitment to safeguarding what they cherish about their workplace.

King's office in Stockholm, Sweden.