Ubisoft employees in Barcelona sue the company — demand to cancel their return to the office

Ubisoft says that «team creativity» grows better in the office.

Unions at Ubisoft studios, which develop AAA games and mobile projects in Barcelona (Spain), have filed a lawsuit against the Assassin’s Creed publisher over changes to its remote work policy. In cooperation with the Spanish trade union CGT (Confederación General del Trabajo), they demand that Ubisoft abolish the mandatory return to the office and guarantee the protection of remote work by a collective agreement.

The unions claim that despite the willingness of both parties to negotiate, Ubisoft’s management has not put forward any proposals since the lawsuit was filed on October 14, reports GamesIndustry.

The company’s management is planning to introduce a new schedule that requires employees to work from the office at least three days a week. This decision will change the current rules that allow employees to choose 60% of working days per month to work from home. The new requirements will also apply to those who currently work completely remotely.

According to the unions, Ubisoft made the decision suddenly and without proper discussion. They emphasize that returning all remote workers to offices at the same time will lead to logistical problems, as the company does not have enough space to accommodate each employee. Ubisoft has allegedly stated that the mandatory return to the office is necessary for «team creativity» and «better communication», but the unions claim that «management has consistently failed to provide any real tangible benefits to support this measure».

Last month, more than 700 employees of Ubisoft France took part in a three-day strike due to a dispute over work from home and wages.