Ubisoft Claims to Be on Track to Overcome Misconduct Crisis

According to Ubisoft's Chief People Officer, Anika Grant, the company is making progress in recovering from the wave of abuse and harassment allegations it faced in 2020. Grant shared this update at the inaugural GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, where she reflected on the changes implemented since her appointment. She acknowledged that the HR department was initially seen as part of the problem, leading to a loss of confidence among employees. To regain trust, Grant emphasized the importance of listening, transparency, and accountability. The HR team adopted a three-point mantra centered around these values. Grant spent her initial months learning about the situation, speaking to staff, including those involved in investigations. Her key takeaway was that the goal was not only to improve outcomes but also to enhance the overall work experience at Ubisoft. To address this challenge, Ubisoft introduced several initiatives, including an employee relations team, new training programs, and a revamped internal reporting system. A new code of conduct was also implemented, along with mandatory training in anti-discrimination and anti-harassment. The company now holds regular global town hall meetings and local listening sessions. Ubisoft partnered with Glint to revamp its annual employee survey, which showed significant improvements in areas related to respectful and safe workplaces. The survey results indicated that 85% of employees felt treated with respect and dignity, exceeding external benchmarks. Grant noted that targets from the survey are discussed annually with the board of directors and influence the compensation of CEO Yves Guillemot. Additionally, Ubisoft has seen an improvement in gender diversity, with the percentage of female employees increasing from 22% in 2020 to 26% in 2023. While acknowledging that creating a safe and caring workspace is an ongoing process, Grant expressed confidence that the company is on the right path, as confirmed by feedback from employees. However, just a week after Grant's keynote, it was reported that five former Ubisoft executives had been arrested following a year-long investigation into incidents of sexual assault and harassment within the company, prior to Grant's appointment.