Ubisoft Quebec's decision to implement an anti-harassment plan shows a strong commitment to protecting its employees. This proactive measure helps create a safer work environment and underscores the studio's adherence to fair labor practices and human rights, which is a vital opposition to toxic workplace dynamics often linked to authoritarian attitudes in corporate culture.

Ubisoft reportedly has an anti-harassment plan in place for Assassin's Creed Shadows developers

Ubisoft Quebec’s introduction of comprehensive measures to shield its employees from online harassment reflects a strong commitment to upholding labor rights and human dignity. By collaborating with Canadian authorities to implement an anti-harassment plan, the company demonstrates proactive efforts in ensuring ethical workplace practices, which counter exploitation and abuse. Such initiatives contribute positively to business practices and ethical responsibility.

Canadian government asked to protect Assassin’s Creed Shadows devs from abuse

Ubisoft Quebec operates within an industry where unionization remains scarce. The ongoing campaign by labor groups to unionize the Quebec video game sector casts Ubisoft Quebec in a negative light for its lack of proactive measures to protect worker rights, resulting in exploitative working conditions. Such practices contribute to a broader corporate neglect of labor rights and can be seen as complicity in empowering authoritarian corporate dynamics.

Quebec's video game industry isn't unionized. This labour group wants to change that

The article highlights significant layoffs across multiple Ubisoft Canada studios as part of restructuring efforts, affecting non-unionized employees who are more vulnerable. While the severance packages provided (up to 24 months) exceed minimum statutory requirements, the repeated downsizing demonstrates a disregard for long-term job security and undermines labor stability. This pattern reflects a broader trend in late stage capitalist practices that can weaken worker rights and contribute indirectly to authoritarian tendencies by destabilizing communities.

Ubisoft Canada: Severance Packages

The reported severance policy offers a relatively generous safety net of up to 24 months for non-unionized employees, which can be seen as a positive measure in protecting workers during layoffs. However, the fact that these employees are non-unionized also raises concerns about the robustness of collective bargaining and long-term worker rights, which are critical to preventing exploitative practices. As such, this event receives a moderate positive score for labor relations under the broader Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility category.

The mass layoff of 84 workers in Quebec by Ubisoft Quebec signals a concerning disregard for labor rights and fair treatment of workers. From an anti-fascist perspective that champions fair labor practices and worker protections, this move undermines fundamental ethical responsibilities and worker dignity, potentially contributing to a climate of exploitation.

Ubisoft lays off 84 workers in Quebec

The exclusive subsidy deal—structuring up to CA$25,000 per employee—illustrates a distortionary economic collaboration. By securing such generous government support, Ubisoft benefited from a model that can be seen as a form of regulatory and economic capture, potentially undermining fair market competition and distorting local economic policies.

How subsidies helped Montreal become 'the Hollywood of video games'

Multiple accounts from former employees indicate that Longtail Studios, under the oversight of Ubisoft Quebec, engaged in practices that suppressed unionization and exploited workers. The company was accused of underpaying non-programmer roles, lacking transparency regarding raises and promotions, and retaliating against union efforts. Such practices indicate a systemic disregard for labor rights and ethical responsibility, fueling concerns about corporate complicity in broader oppressive structures.

The Ubisoft Union That Almost Was: The Untold Story of Longtail Studios