Private Doctor's Removal Ignites Union at Candy Crush Developer

In early 2024, Microsoft, the new owner of Activision Blizzard, sent an email to employees at its Stockholm office announcing the end of a highly valued company benefit, inadvertently sparking a union effort.

Last fall, over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm location formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. The group has been recognized and is in communication with company management, aiming to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will govern their work environment, policies, and benefits.

Unions in Sweden differ from those in the U.S. Eligible workers can join a trade union at any time, regardless of whether their company has organized. Approximately 70% of the country participates in a trade union, and Swedish laws are generally more favorable to unions. Trade unions negotiate broadly with their sectors over working conditions, such as salaries and sick leave, and individual membership can provide additional benefits.

Forming a union club and securing a CBA is another layer of union membership in Sweden. If enough employees join the same union at a company, they can vote to install a union board to negotiate a CBA. This CBA can secure workplace-specific benefits similar to U.S. union contracts, and local union boards can have representation at the top levels of company management. This trend is growing in the Swedish gaming industry, as seen at companies like Paradox Interactive and more recently, Avalanche Studios.

The Doctor is Out

I spoke with Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King in Stockholm and a board member of King Stockholm's Unionen chapter. She explained that prior to 2024, union discussions at the company were minimal. There was a Slack channel for union discussions, but it was mostly unused, with only around nine or ten members.

However, in early January, employees received an email from management announcing the end of a unique benefit provided during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic: a free, private doctor for themselves and their families. This doctor, rumored to have been chosen by then-CEO Bobby Kotick, was highly valued by the staff for her responsiveness, support during the pandemic, and empathy toward employees' requests for sick leave or mental health notes. Many staff members relied on her for their healthcare needs.

The announcement that this benefit was being discontinued shortly after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard was devastating. Employees were given just a week's notice, forcing them to quickly find new healthcare options.

King's office in Stockholm, Sweden.Employees were offered private health insurance benefits to replace the doctor, but Falck noted that the replacement was not as effective. "You have to go through a portal and talk to a nurse every time you want an appointment," she said. "It's not the personal experience of having a dedicated doctor who cares for you and supports you when you're feeling burnt out. She was a godsend."

Normally, King Stockholm employees were quiet about company issues, but this change sparked widespread discussion on the Stockholm general Slack channel. "We had no bargaining power," Falck said. "If we had a CBA in place, we could have negotiated with our employer."

With no immediate recourse, Falck revitalized the union Slack channel, which quickly grew to 217 members. Over the next several months, the group contacted Unionen representatives and, in October 2024, officially voted to form a union club with a union board at King Stockholm. [IGN reached out to Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King for comment but did not receive a response.]

No Gods, Only King

Since its formation, the King union has met with Activision Blizzard HR to discuss communication moving forward, and Falck described their response as "neutral," which aligns with legal protections for unions in Sweden. Microsoft has also committed to a "neutral approach" toward unions, and reports from other newly-formed unions within the company suggest they are following through globally.

Falck and her colleagues understand that it's too late to reinstate their private doctor benefit, but they aim to negotiate a CBA to protect other popular benefits from similar abrupt changes. "It comes down to protecting our benefits with agreements to ensure we have influence over changes," she said. "We have unique benefits, not just in the game industry but in Sweden as a whole, like bonuses and other perks from Microsoft. We want to protect these so if changes are proposed, we can negotiate or at least try to secure them for the future."

Other issues Falck mentioned include salary and information transparency, as well as protection and transparency around company reorganizations and layoffs. Most importantly, she and her colleagues want to influence their workplace for everyone's benefit. As Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak explained:

"The idea of unionizing in Sweden is about both parties having influence and coming to the table to discuss matters," he said. "Employees help their employer understand everyday work, which is unavailable to any company president or HR representative who isn't a game developer. Giving all employees a say and a seat at the table is positive.

"Labor law in Sweden still favors the employer, but employees should protect and be aware of their rights. Unionizing is a way to learn these rights, especially in industries like game development or IT, which have many immigrant workers."

Falck noted that the union has already benefited from sharing information on employee rights, helping European and American game developers who join King understand their entitlements. Organizing has enabled them to educate one another on their rights and better advocate for themselves both individually and collectively.

For Falck and her colleagues, forming a union club at King began as a reaction to an unpopular change, but its purpose is to protect the aspects they love about their job and the company's culture. "It's a completely different world and company that we're getting used to. So we want to protect what is King, what is the culture, what are the benefits."