Activision Blizzard has been the subject of a slew of controversies throughout the last year, one of which entailed the sudden removal of a dozen or so QA testers at Raven Software after they were asked to relocate based on promises of pay raises.
Now though, Activision Blizzard has released a statement (via Bloomberg) confirming that all US-based QA employees at the company will now be full-time employees. Some 1,100 QA testers will be starting a full-time role at the company from July 1st. Additionally, these new employees will also receive a pay raise to a minimum of $20 per hour.
“Today we announced the conversion of all US-based temporary and contingent QA team members at Activision Publishing and Blizzard – nearly 1,100 people in total – to permanent full-time employees starting on July 1,” the statement reads.
This comes shortly after many employees at Raven Studio began the process of unionization, which is currently fighting a battle for recognition from the company itself. Activision Blizzard’s soon-to-be parent company Microsoft has clarified that it won’t object if the company recognizes the union.
