Key Takeaways
- Hundreds of ZeniMax QA testers went on strike on November 13.
- They are protesting Microsoft’s outsourcing practices and ZeniMax’s remote work policy.
As a long-time fan and supporter of ZeniMax Media, I must say, it’s both inspiring and disheartening to see the recent turn of events unfolding at the company. The courage shown by hundreds of QA testers, standing up for their rights and demanding change, is truly commendable. They are not just fighting for themselves but for the future of the gaming industry as a whole.
As a devoted fan, I find myself joining the ranks of hundreds of my fellow quality assurance testers at ZeniMax Media, standing up against our employer’s remote work policy and Microsoft’s outsourcing practices. Our collective walkout is currently making waves across ZeniMax studios spread across two states.
In March 2021, Microsoft completed an $8.1 billion deal to purchase Bethesda’s parent company in full. By January 2023, around 300 quality assurance testers from ZeniMax chose to form a union, making it the largest video game union in the U.S. This labor organization, known as ZeniMax Workers United (a part of Communications Workers of America or CWA), has since been negotiating with Microsoft.
The talks between them have come to a halt, but now the union is planning to re-ignite them with a strike. This organized work stoppage commenced at ZeniMax studios in Maryland and Texas on November 13, starting at 10am local time. This one-day demonstration will last for eight hours. In an interview with Inverse before the walkout, Rhyanna Eichner, Lead QA Tester at ZeniMax Online Studios, expressed her enthusiasm about the strike, stating that everyone involved was “eager to unite” and take the necessary steps to progress.
ZeniMax QA Testers Want To Limit Outsourcing
Regarding the specifics of their proposed action, the striking workers are asking their employer to reduce future outsourcing. They argue that the company expanded outsourcing without consulting their union first, a move they find problematic amidst the ongoing layoffs and general unrest. It’s important to note that outsourcing has impacted more than just ZeniMax within Microsoft. For instance, in early 2024, Microsoft let go of most of Blizzard’s customer support team, stating that they would be transferring their responsibilities to external parties.
ZeniMax Staffers Are Also Demanding Remote Work Policy Changes
The walkout by employees is partly driven by dissatisfaction with ZeniMax’s current remote work policy. Specifically, the company’s QA testers are mandated to report to the office on a bi-weekly basis. However, union members claim that their requests for remote work options have been consistently denied. The union is frustrated that their suggestions for a more flexible remote work policy have fallen on deaf ears. They believe that a one-day walkout will encourage ZeniMax and Microsoft to resume negotiations, listen to their concerns, and start making accommodations to address them. As Juniper Dowell, Senior QA Tester at Bethesda Softworks, put it to Inverse, “We hope to persuade them to cease procrastination and join us in discussions.
Hopefully, we can convince them to stop dragging their feet and meet us at the table.
On November 13, ZeniMax Workers United staged their initial walkout, which represented the first labor action they’ve taken since their establishment in 2023. Meanwhile, Bethesda Game Studios, a subsidiary of ZeniMax, unionized in July 2024, but has yet to participate in any strikes following its formation.
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2024-11-13 22:14