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

In early 2024, a seemingly minor decision by Activision Blizzard, under its new owner Microsoft, ignited a significant unionization effort at its Stockholm office. The removal of a popular employee benefit—a private doctor for employees and their families—unexpectedly galvanized staff.

IGN learned that last fall, over one hundred employees at King’s Stockholm location formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden’s largest trade union. This group, now formally recognized by management, aims to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to influence workplace conditions, policies, and benefits.

Swedish unionization differs from the U.S. model. Swedish workers can join a relevant trade union regardless of company organization, resulting in approximately 70% union membership nationwide. Unions negotiate sector-wide conditions, while individual membership offers additional benefits. However, forming a company union club and securing a CBA provides further workplace-specific advantages, including representation at senior management levels. This mirrors a growing trend in the Swedish games industry, observed at companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.

Prior to 2024, union activity at King Stockholm was minimal. A company Slack channel dedicated to union discussions remained largely inactive, with only a handful of members. However, the January 2024 announcement regarding the removal of the private doctor benefit dramatically changed this. This benefit, highly valued by employees, was rescinded with only a week's notice, forcing a scramble to find alternative healthcare. While private health insurance was offered as a replacement, employees felt it lacked the personalized care of their previous doctor.

This unexpected change sparked widespread discussion among employees, highlighting a lack of bargaining power without a CBA. This prompted a resurgence of interest in the union Slack channel, swelling its membership to 217. Subsequently, in October 2024, the group voted to formally establish a union club with a board. [IGN contacted Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King for comment but received no response.]

Since its formation, the King union has engaged with Activision Blizzard HR, receiving a neutral response, consistent with Swedish law and Microsoft's publicly stated neutral approach toward unions. While the lost doctor benefit is irretrievable, the union aims to negotiate a CBA to safeguard existing benefits and address other key concerns.

These concerns include salary and information transparency, protection against reorganizations and layoffs, and overall workplace influence. As Timo Rybak, Unionen Stockholm organizer, explains, unionization provides employees with a voice in shaping their workplace and access to information unavailable to management. This is particularly crucial in the games industry, with its diverse workforce, including many international employees who may be unaware of their full rights.

The King Stockholm union's formation, initially a response to a negative change, has evolved into a proactive effort to preserve the positive aspects of their work environment and protect employee rights. The union aims to protect the company culture and benefits they value.