Private Doctor's Removal Triggers Union at Candy Crush Developer

In early 2024, Activision Blizzard, now under the ownership of Microsoft, informed employees at its Stockholm office that a cherished company benefit was being discontinued. This decision inadvertently sparked a unionization effort among the staff.

IGN has learned that in the fall of the previous year, over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm location formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. This group has been recognized and is now in dialogue with company management, aiming to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will define their work environment, policies, and benefits moving forward.

Unions in Sweden operate differently from those in the U.S. In Sweden, workers can join a trade union at any time, regardless of their company's unionization status. Approximately 70% of the population participates in trade unions, and Swedish laws are generally more favorable to unions. These unions negotiate with their sectors on issues like salaries and sick leave, and individual membership can provide additional benefits to employees.

However, forming a union club and securing a CBA adds another layer to union membership in Sweden. If enough employees at a company join the same union, they can vote to establish a union board to negotiate a CBA. This agreement can secure workplace-specific benefits similar to U.S. union contracts, and local union boards can gain representation at the highest levels of company management, influencing major decisions. This is the path that King Stockholm has taken, following a trend seen at other Swedish gaming companies like Paradox Interactive and, more recently, Avalanche Studios.

The doctor is out

I spoke with Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King in Stockholm and a board member of King Stockholm's Unionen chapter. Falck explained that before 2024, union discussions at the company were minimal. There was a Slack channel dedicated to union matters, but it was largely inactive, with only about nine or ten members.

However, in early January, employees received an email from management with distressing news. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stockholm office had been granted a unique benefit: a free, private doctor for employees and their families. This doctor, reportedly chosen by then-CEO Bobby Kotick, became extremely popular among the staff due to her responsiveness, support during the pandemic, and empathy towards employees' health needs. Many employees relied on her for all their healthcare needs.

The news that this benefit was being terminated shortly after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard was devastating. Employees were given only a week's notice, forcing them to quickly find alternative healthcare options.

Falck mentioned that typically, King Stockholm employees were reserved about company issues, but this change sparked widespread discussion. The Stockholm general Slack channel saw numerous posts about the change.

"We had no bargaining power," she said. "With a CBA in place, we could have negotiated with our employer."

With no immediate solutions, Falck revived the union Slack channel, which quickly gained traction, reaching 217 members by the time I spoke with her. Over the next few months, the group organized and reached out to Unionen representatives. In October 2024, they officially voted to form a union club with a union board at King Stockholm. [IGN reached out to Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King for comment but did not receive a response.]

No gods, only King

Since its formation, the King union has met with Activision Blizzard HR to discuss communication channels. Falck described their response as "neutral," which aligns with the legal protections for unions in Sweden. Microsoft has also committed to a "neutral approach" toward unions, and reports from other newly-formed unions within the company suggest this stance is being upheld globally.

Falck and her colleagues understand that the private doctor benefit cannot be reinstated, but they aim to negotiate a CBA that will safeguard other valued benefits from similar abrupt changes.

"It's about protecting the benefits we have with agreements to ensure we can influence and negotiate any changes," she said. "We have unique benefits, not just in the gaming industry but in Sweden as a whole, like bonuses and other Microsoft benefits. We want to protect these so if changes are proposed, we can at least try to negotiate or secure them for the future."

Falck also highlighted other potential issues such as salary and information transparency, as well as protections around company reorganizations and layoffs. Most importantly, she emphasized the need for employees to have a say in their workplace for the collective good. Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak echoed this sentiment:

"The essence of unionizing in Sweden is about both parties having influence and coming to the table to discuss matters," he said. "It's about employees helping their employer understand the everyday work, which is something no company president or HR representative can fully grasp without being a game developer themselves. Giving employees a voice and a seat at the table is inherently positive.

"While Swedish labor laws still favor the employer, employees should be aware of and protect their rights. Unionizing is also a way of learning about these rights, which is particularly important in industries like game development and IT, where many immigrant workers are employed."

Falck pointed out that the union has already benefited from sharing information on employee rights, noting that many European and American game developers at King were previously unaware of their entitlements. Organizing has allowed them to educate each other and better advocate for themselves both individually and as a group.

For Falck and her colleagues, forming a union club at King started as a reaction to an unpopular change but has evolved into a broader effort to protect what they love about their job and the company culture. "It's a completely different world and company we're getting used to, so we want to protect what is King, what is the culture, and what are the benefits."