Ubisoft Montreal in disarray after forced return to office mandate
Employees at Ubisoft Montreal recently returned to the office after a three-year work from home (WFH) period. But according to IGN's new report, coming back to the office has been both incredibly divisive and seen as the developer going back on its word.
As of September 11, employees are now required to come work in the office for two days out of the week. Exemptions are reportedly only for those who demonstrate "explicit needs," and even then, only after "all other solutions have been explored."
Like many large developers, Ubisoft enacted a remote work policy at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Returning to in-person work has been a controversial move at other studios like Activision Blizzard, in part because it's shown that the development process doesn't necessarily require a singular headquarters.
Employees at the Montreal office allege management previously told staff it would have "100 percent remote work" where possible (such as the nature of work done and team impact). Documents from management further back this claim, and several employees took the studio at its word that WFH would be viable for the long term.
Several employees admitted that, under the belief that WFH was sticking around, they made "major life decisions" like buying a house outside of Montreal. More recent hires accepted job offers because WFH provided them an opportunity to apply.
Speaking to IGN, a number of Ubisoft Montreal employees outlined their issues with returning to an in-person structure. Beyond the shared feeling of "broken promises," those interviewed highlighted how management has put the larger team in a rough spot in a number of ways.
In the wake of this news, some have speculated it's an intentional move on Ubisoft's part to
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