How the Removal of a Private Doctor Sparked a Union at the Developer of Candy Crush

In early 2024, a significant change at Activision Blizzard's Stockholm office, under new owner Microsoft, unexpectedly ignited a unionization drive. The removal of a highly valued employee benefit – a private company doctor – prompted over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm location to form a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union.

The Swedish union landscape differs from that of the U.S. Membership is common (approximately 70% of the workforce), and unions negotiate broadly with sectors, impacting salaries and leave. However, forming a union club and securing a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) provides additional workplace-specific benefits and influence. This mirrors a growing trend in the Swedish games industry.

Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager and union board member, explained that the company doctor, a popular benefit introduced during the pandemic, was abruptly removed with only a week's notice. While private health insurance was offered as a replacement, it lacked the personal touch and accessibility of the previous arrangement. This sparked widespread discontent and fueled the unionization effort. The previously inactive union Slack channel quickly gained over 200 members.

The union's formation in October 2024 followed months of planning and communication with Unionen. While Microsoft has publicly committed to a neutral stance on unionization, the King Stockholm union's initial interactions with Activision Blizzard HR have been described as neutral.

While regaining the lost company doctor benefit is unlikely, the union aims to secure a CBA to protect existing benefits and address other crucial issues. These include salary transparency, protection against company reorganizations and layoffs, and improved communication. A key goal is to provide employees, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, with a voice in company decisions and a better understanding of their rights. Timo Rybak, a Unionen Stockholm organizer, emphasized the importance of employee input in workplace decisions. The union also serves as a platform for sharing information and educating employees about their rights.

For Falck and her colleagues, the union's formation, born from a negative experience, is ultimately about preserving the positive aspects of their work environment and company culture. The union seeks to protect existing benefits and ensure employee voices are heard in future changes.