The Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union (UWM) has initiated a formal petition aimed at protecting the hybrid work arrangement that many staff members have come to rely on. Within a short period, the petition has attracted more than three hundred signatures, reflecting a growing concern among employees about recent changes to workplace policy.
According to reporting by Game Developer, the campaign was officially launched on September 30, when the Game Workers Unite Montreal (GWU) union posted an announcement across its social media channels. The message called on every Ubisoft Montreal employee to add their name to the petition and urged allies to spread the word within their own circles, encouraging a broader base of support. The union’s outreach strategy emphasized personal interaction: staff were asked to approach their coworkers during break periods and invite them to sign the document on the spot. This approach proved effective, as the majority of the signatures were collected in person rather than through online forms.
By fostering face‑to‑face dialogue, the union hoped to highlight the tangible impact that a return‑to‑office mandate could have on daily routines and work‑life balance. The United Videogame Workers Union, operating under the CWA umbrella (UVW‑CWA), publicly endorsed the petition.
In its statement, UVW‑CWA praised the Montreal union for "leading the change in our collective struggle for dignified work and economic justice." The statement went on to enumerate the groups most affected by a rigid office‑only policy: parents juggling childcare, employees with disabilities who depend on flexible schedules, staff who have purchased homes far from the studio, expatriates who relocated internationally to keep their jobs, and professionals who have demonstrated higher productivity while working remotely. "Return‑to‑Office is one of many policies management implements without the input of workers it affects the most," the union wrote. "By imposing harsh cost‑cutting measures and reneging on prior agreements, company leadership must be held accountable for the human cost of their decisions." The union’s language underscores a broader critique of top‑down decisions that prioritize short‑term financial goals over employee well‑being. Ubisoft’s own rationale for the shift dates back to the beginning of the year, when the company announced a restructuring plan known as the "Creative Houses" model.
As part of this overhaul, a return‑to‑office directive was introduced, requiring staff to be present in the studio five days a week, with only a limited, annually‑allocated number of work‑from‑home days permitted. The company framed the policy as a means to boost collaboration and creative synergy across teams. Marie‑Sophie de Waubert, Senior Vice President of Studio Operations, explained the corporate perspective in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz. She said, "We really want to strengthen onsite collaboration, the collective dynamic across teams.
We know that in‑person collaboration and interactions are key enablers of efficiency, creativity, and collective success in this persistently selective market. It's one enabler among others, but it's really one we believe in." De Waubert added that the company would eventually discuss the specifics of the new model with each country’s representatives, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of Ubisoft’s games and the creativity behind them.
"We will, of course, discuss in due time with the different countries the modus operandi, and the flexibility linked to that evolution of our model," she said. "But the objective is really linked to the quality of our games and the quality of our creativity.
And it's one enabler among others for the Creative Houses to reconnect with success and team engagement." Chief Financial Officer Frederick Duguet echoed a similar sentiment, stating that the changes are intended to "boost the collective performance for AAA titles." He assured employees that ongoing dialogue with staff and their representatives would continue throughout the transition. The tension surrounding Ubisoft’s office mandate is not new.
In February of this year, the studio experienced a three‑day international strike in response to the restructuring and the imposed return‑to‑office policy. At least 1,200 employees participated, according to Marc Rutschlé, a representative of the Solidaires Informatique union at Ubisoft Paris, who confirmed the figures to GamesIndustry.biz. Ubisoft later reported that 528 staff members had formally registered as being on strike in a separate statement.
The current petition therefore builds on a history of organized labor actions at Ubisoft, reflecting a broader desire among workers for a more flexible, inclusive, and consultative approach to workplace design. By gathering over 300 signatures, the Montreal union demonstrates that a significant portion of the workforce remains unsatisfied with the current arrangement and is willing to mobilize in defense of hybrid work options.
As the petition circulates, both the union and its allies hope to pressure Ubisoft’s leadership into revisiting the policy, potentially negotiating a more balanced schedule that accommodates remote work while still preserving the collaborative benefits of occasional in‑person meetings. The outcome of this effort could set a precedent for other studios within the gaming industry, where the debate over remote versus office work continues to evolve in the post‑pandemic era. In summary, the Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union’s petition is a clear signal that employees are seeking greater agency over how, when, and where they work. With the backing of larger labor organizations and a growing base of signatures, the union aims to compel Ubisoft to recognize the diverse needs of its workforce and to craft a hybrid model that truly reflects the realities of modern game development.