Activision Blizzard has been the subject of slew of controversies throughout the last year, one of which entailed the sudden removal of 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 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.