ZeniMax Studios Employees Strike In Protest Of Mandate To Return To Office

Earlier today, Zenimax Workers United, the employee union at Bethesda’s parent company, announced that “hundreds of [their] members” are on strike in Maryland and Texas, as well as other locations. The reason for the strike, according to the announcement on X, is to force Microsoft to meet with them to address certain issues. The two primary issues listed revolve around the return-to-office mandate, and Microsoft is reportedly outsourcing QA jobs without giving the union notification of their intent.

We deserve job security and improved working conditions.

Hundreds of our members are striking from 10-6PM in Maryland and Texas today to tell Microsoft to stop dragging their feet.

— ZeniMax Workers United - CWA (@ZeniMaxWorkers) November 13, 2024

The Zenimax strike is the latest in a series of actions throughout the video game industry. Last month, ABK Workers Alliance held a rally to protest the return to office policy stating that it “has unquestionably harmed disabled employees and employees in need of work-from-home accommodations”. At the same time, SAG-AFTRA’s voice actor strike has been ongoing in an attempt to address AI policies among other things.

Today, AQAU-CWA members are holding a rally in protest of the company's unequal policy that has unquestionably harmed disabled employees and employees in need of work from home accommodations. Read our statement below and join us in saying ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. pic.twitter.com/pMqk4tMU34

— ABetterABK 💙 ABK Workers Alliance (@ABetterABK) October 25, 2024