Key Takeaways
1. Ubisoft’s reputation as a friendly workplace is under scrutiny due to a recent in-office policy change.
2. Employee David Michaud-Cromp criticized the new five-day in-office requirement on LinkedIn, questioning the company’s claims of valuing collaboration.
3. Michaud-Cromp was suspended for three days without pay for allegedly violating the “duty of loyalty” after his comments.
4. Many LinkedIn users supported Michaud-Cromp, accusing Ubisoft of suppressing dissent instead of fostering open dialogue.
5. The situation raises potential legal concerns for Ubisoft, as some commenters noted the company must prove reputational damage to justify the suspension.
Ubisoft’s reputation for being a friendly workplace isn’t exactly stellar. A recent situation highlighted this when the French game developer instituted a five-day in-office requirement during an internal reshuffle. Following this decision, an employee openly criticized the return-to-office policy and was reportedly suspended not long after.
Employee’s Reaction
David Michaud-Cromp, who works as a level designer at Ubisoft Montreal, expressed his concerns about the new in-office rules on LinkedIn. He pointed out that the company’s claims of “believing in collaboration” seemed misleading. Michaud-Cromp stated, “C’mon, we’re not completely stupid… we very well know why you want to go back to five days in the office.”
Suspension and Backlash
While Michaud-Cromp’s remarks might have seemed straightforward, they were not hurtful or slanderous, yet Ubisoft clearly took issue with them. Just a few days after his post, he updated his LinkedIn to announce that he had been suspended without pay for three days. Insider Gaming reported that the official reason was an alleged violation of the “duty of loyalty,” which is a labor law that requires workers to be loyal to their employer.
Support from the Community
In the comments on LinkedIn, many users expressed support for the suspended worker. Several accused Ubisoft of trying to suppress dissent instead of having an open conversation with employees. Michaud-Cromp’s perspective on the actual motives behind the return-to-office decision was echoed by many. Some commenters even raised potential legal issues, suggesting that Ubisoft would need to prove real reputational damage to justify such a suspension. As of now, the company has not released any public comments. Michaud-Cromp mentioned in a later post that he wouldn’t provide further remarks on the situation.
Image source: Ubisoft
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