1 in 4 Ubisoft Employees Experienced or Witnessed Abuse

Last Friday, Ubisoft sent Kotaku a PR statement regarding the results of a company-wide survey started in the wake of their enormous abuse scandal -- most likely trying to preempt any leaks that would inevitably come their way. That report, which came from a third party who polled 1,400 employees across Ubisoft's entire staff, found that one in four employees had either witnessed or experienced workplace discrimination or abuse in their time at the company.

Unsurprisingly, women were 30 percent more likely to be victimized, while non-binaries were 43 percent more likely to be on the receiving end of abuse. Finally, of those polled, only 66 jpercent thought that they received the support they needed. I very much doubt there was much overlap between the 25 percent of witnesses or victims and the 66 percent who felt supported.

It continued:
 

“The audit also highlights a lack of sensitivity and commitment from management on all matters of diversity, inclusion and respect. Therefore, we must better support our managers so that they are exemplary and become champions of these changes throughout the organization.”

Of course, this being the product of Ubisoft PR, it didn't just end on negatives. It followed up by outlying steps that the company planned to take to tackle these issues.

• Guarantee a working environment where everyone feels respected and safe.
• Putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do.
• Refocus and strengthen our HR function.
• Make the managers of the group accountable and empower them.

However, as Kotaku was quick to point out, the report offered "nothing that would directly impact the power-imbalance between managers and those who report to them when it comes to speaking up about problematic behavior." Again, that's Kotaku's words, not Ubisoft's.

One final thing they said they would be adding is a "review committee" who would be looking over Ubisoft's content and messaging to ensure it's respectful and aligned with their new company "ideals". Likely a direct response to the whole BLM/Female Assassin debacle to happen recently.

Positive steps. Steps taken too late, and that have no barring on my opinion of the company, at least, but I can still admit they're positive steps nonetheless.