Square Enix Unveils Robust Anti-Harassment Policy to Safeguard Employees and Partners
Square Enix has proactively introduced a comprehensive anti-harassment policy designed to protect its workforce and collaborators. This policy clearly defines unacceptable behavior, encompassing threats of violence, defamation, and other forms of harassment. The company asserts its right to deny services and pursue legal action against individuals engaging in such conduct.
The policy's implementation underscores the growing need for such measures within the gaming industry. Online harassment has become increasingly prevalent, targeting developers, actors, and other industry professionals. High-profile incidents, including death threats and event cancellations due to online threats, highlight the severity of this issue. Square Enix's decisive action aims to prevent similar situations from impacting its team.
The policy, detailed on the Square Enix website, extends protection to all employees and partners, from support staff to executives. While encouraging fan feedback, the company firmly states that harassment is unacceptable. The policy explicitly outlines various forms of harassment, including:
Harassment Defined:
- Acts of violence or threats of violence
- Abusive language, intimidation, coercion, excessive pursuit, or reprimand
- Defamation, slander, personal attacks (across all online and offline platforms), and threats of business disruption
- Persistent inquiries or repeated unwanted contact
- Trespassing on company property
- Unlawful restraint through phone calls or online communication
- Discriminatory behavior based on race, ethnicity, religion, origin, or other protected characteristics
- Privacy violations, such as unauthorized photography or recording
- Sexual harassment and stalking
Undue Demands Defined:
- Unreasonable product exchanges or demands for monetary compensation
- Unreasonable requests for apologies, particularly those targeting specific employees or partners
- Excessive demands for products or services beyond acceptable norms
- Unreasonable and excessive demands for employee punishment
This proactive stance is a necessary response to the increasing instances of online abuse directed at game developers. Recent examples include the harassment faced by voice actors, such as Sena Bryer, who received transphobic abuse. Past incidents involving Square Enix itself, including death threats and event cancellations, further underscore the urgency of this policy. By taking a firm stand, Square Enix is setting a positive example and prioritizing the well-being of its team.
