Activision Blizzard Inc said on Thursday that over 1,100 temporary and contingent quality assurance professionals in several divisions in the United States will be converted to full-time employees beginning July 1.
⚡️ Activision Blizzard said it will convert about 1,100 U.S.-based temporary or contract quality assurance workers to full-time staffers https://t.co/gu9ky8XndN
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The maker of "Call of Duty," which is being purchased by Microsoft Corp for $68.7 billion, announced that it will boost the minimum hourly salary for these employees — from the Activision Publishing and Blizzard divisions – to $20 or more, as well as provide them with full corporate benefits.
This adjustment will result in a 25% rise in the overall number of full-time employees at Activision Publishing.
"This shift is part of a process that began last year throughout AP and Blizzard to convert temporary and contingent staff, including 500 at AP's studios, to permanent full-time employees," an Activision Blizzard spokeswoman said.
The corporation has been the subject of investigative reports outlining internal charges of sexual harassment, and its employees have staged walkouts in protest of the company's reaction to the concerns. California authorities filed a case against Activision in July of last year, stating that the company "fostered a misogynistic atmosphere."