Ubisoft Milan joins Ubisoft France strike over return to office
Ubisoft Milan joins Ubisoft France strike over return to office , On October 20, 2024, Ubisoft Milan announced that it would join Ubisoft France in their ongoing strike. The reason behind this protest is Ubisoft’s policy to enforce a return-to-office mandate.
Ubisoft’s new rule requires employees to work in the office for a set number of days each week. This has upset many workers. In France, employees of several Ubisoft studios had already begun striking a few days earlier. Ubisoft Milan’s decision to join the protest has now added momentum to this movement.
Table of Contents
The Return to Office Mandate
Ubisoft introduced a new return-to-office policy earlier in 2024. The company asked employees to return to work in person for at least three days each week. Ubisoft said that this move was necessary for better collaboration.
They believe that working together in person would improve creativity and communication. Management also felt that physical office presence would boost productivity.
Read more
However, this policy has been met with a lot of resistance. Many Ubisoft employees do not agree with it. They have raised concerns about work-life balance, health risks, and the practicality of commuting to the office every week.
For many employees, the ability to work from home during the pandemic had become a new norm. Some employees had even moved to different cities or made lifestyle changes to accommodate remote work.
Ubisoft France Leads the Protest
Ubisoft France was the first to take action against this policy. On October 16, 2024, employees from Ubisoft’s French offices began their strike. The main studios involved were Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Bordeaux, and Ubisoft Montpellier.
These workers expressed their displeasure at being forced to come back to the office. They felt that the company was not taking their concerns seriously.
The strike started with smaller groups, but as the days passed, more and more employees joined in. The employees demanded that Ubisoft reconsider the return-to-office policy.
They wanted more flexibility in how they work. According to the workers, forcing everyone to return to the office would harm their work-life balance. They also raised concerns about the cost and time involved in commuting.
Ubisoft Milan Joins the Movement
On October 20, 2024, Ubisoft Milan declared that they would also go on strike in solidarity with their colleagues in France. This came after discussions within the Milan office about the difficulties they were facing with the return-to-office policy.
Like their French counterparts, Ubisoft Milan’s employees argued that the policy was not fair. They said that working remotely had been beneficial for their productivity and creativity.
Employees in Milan stated that they were just as capable of producing high-quality work from home. They also highlighted the success of games developed while working remotely during the pandemic.
Some workers expressed frustration at being forced back into the office after years of adjusting to remote work. The strike in Milan sent a clear message to Ubisoft’s leadership that the issue was now spreading beyond just France.
Worker’s Concerns and Demands
The core issue behind the strike is the demand for flexibility. Ubisoft workers want more control over where they work. Many employees have cited the increased cost of living in urban areas where Ubisoft’s offices are located. Returning to the office would require them to move closer or spend more money on commuting.
Health concerns are also a factor. Some employees are worried about the spread of illness in crowded office spaces. Despite the end of the pandemic, many still feel safer working from home. For some, the ability to care for children or elderly family members is also a big part of why they prefer remote work.
In France, the workers’ unions have played a key role in organizing the strike. The unions are calling for a hybrid work model. This model would allow employees to decide how many days they work from the office and how many from home.
They believe this would create a fair balance and respect the needs of individual workers. Ubisoft’s current mandate does not provide this level of flexibility, and that is why it has been rejected by many employees.
The Role of Technology in Remote Work
During the pandemic, Ubisoft and many other companies around the world relied heavily on technology to enable remote work.
Video conferencing tools, cloud-based project management software, and other digital platforms allowed Ubisoft employees to work from anywhere. The company was able to continue developing and releasing games without major disruptions.
Ubisoft employees argue that this shift to digital tools proved that physical presence in the office is not always necessary. Teams can collaborate through online platforms, and productivity can be maintained or even improved.
Many workers believe that Ubisoft’s insistence on returning to the office ignores the benefits that remote work brought to the company.
How the Strike Affects Ubisoft’s Projects
The strike has raised concerns about Ubisoft’s ongoing game development projects. With employees in both France and Italy participating in the strike, there may be delays in certain projects.
Ubisoft is known for producing popular games like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six. These projects involve collaboration across multiple studios, so disruptions in one studio could affect others.
The strike could also impact upcoming game releases. If the strike continues for a long time, Ubisoft may have to delay the release of new titles.
This could affect the company’s revenue and reputation. Fans are already worried about potential delays, especially for highly anticipated titles like the next Assassin’s Creed game.
However, the striking employees argue that their well-being is more important. They believe that by addressing their concerns, Ubisoft would ultimately benefit in the long run. Happier employees are more likely to produce better work, which would be good for the company and its games.
Ubisoft’s Response
Ubisoft’s leadership has acknowledged the strike but has not yet made any major changes to the return-to-office policy. In a statement, the company said it understands the concerns of its employees and is open to dialogue.
However, the company emphasized the importance of in-person collaboration. Ubisoft believes that being physically present in the office helps teams work together more effectively.
Ubisoft has offered some flexibility, allowing employees to work remotely for part of the week. But this has not been enough to satisfy many of the workers.
The company has yet to announce any major changes to the return-to-office policy. Ubisoft’s management is now facing increased pressure as more employees join the strike.
Support from Other Industries
The Ubisoft strike has drawn attention from other industries as well. Workers in other tech and creative industries are watching closely. The issue of remote work versus office work is one that many companies are grappling with.
Some tech companies, like Google and Apple, have also faced pushback from employees over similar return-to-office policies.
The debate over remote work is not limited to Ubisoft. It reflects a broader conversation about how work should be structured in the modern world.
Many employees who have experienced remote work do not want to return to the old ways of working. They argue that remote work provides more freedom, flexibility, and a better quality of life.
What Comes Next for Ubisoft?
It is unclear how long the strike will last or what the outcome will be. Ubisoft may have to make concessions to its employees if the strike continues to grow. The company risks damaging its relationship with its workforce if it does not address their concerns.
The strike could also lead to a wider conversation within Ubisoft about workplace culture and employee well-being. If the company finds a way to balance the needs of both management and workers, it could set an example for other companies facing similar challenges.
Conclusion
Ubisoft’s return-to-office mandate has sparked a major strike across its studios in France and Italy. Employees are demanding more flexibility in how they work, with many preferring the option to work from home.
Ubisoft has yet to make significant changes to its policy, but the strike is growing. The outcome of this protest could have a lasting impact on Ubisoft and the broader tech and gaming industries. As of October 20, 2024, the strike shows no signs of slowing down, and the future remains uncertain for both Ubisoft and its employees.
Thank you 24
