The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Unions (AFL-CIO) has approached Activision Blizzard with a proposal to increase inclusivity and interview at least one representative of racial minorities for each vacancy. The company called such an initiative unworkable.The essence of the AFL-CIO’s proposal is to include non-white citizens and women with relevant experience in the list of candidates for open vacancies.
The organization compared its initiative to the “Rooney Rule”, which operates in the NFL and obliges teams to interview at least one representative of BAME (blacks, Asians and representatives of other ethnic minorities) for the position of head coach.
According to the AFL-CIO, this will allow Activision Blizzard to increase racial and gender inclusivity. The organization clarified that it does not require the company to interview exclusively women and representatives of minorities.
In response, Activision called the initiative an “impracticable encroachment” on its business and ability to compete for talent in a rapidly developing market. The company also referred to the Securities Commission rule that allows rejecting offers related to the operational part of the business.
At the same time, Activision noted that it applies an inclusivity policy when considering candidates for senior positions. The company believes that the expansion of this initiative to all vacancies will lead to the fact that management and the board of directors will cease to control and influence the recruitment process.
The AFL-CIO has also made a similar offer to Electronic Arts. A representative of the publisher said that the board of directors will consider this initiative, as they always strive to look for ways to increase inclusivity within the company.