Square Enix Unveils Policy for Employee Protection

Square Enix Unveils Robust Anti-Harassment Policy to Protect Employees and Partners

Square Enix has proactively introduced a comprehensive anti-harassment policy designed to safeguard its employees 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 escalating issue of online harassment within the gaming industry. High-profile incidents, such as death threats targeting actors and the cancellation of events due to threats of violence, highlight the urgent need for such protective measures. Square Enix's proactive stance aims to prevent similar situations impacting its workforce.

The detailed policy, published on the Square Enix website, covers a wide range of harassment types, explicitly stating that while feedback is welcomed, harassment is strictly prohibited. The policy outlines specific examples of unacceptable behavior, including:

Harassment Defined:

• Acts of violence or violent threats
• Abusive language, intimidation, coercion, undue pressure, excessive pursuit, or reprimands
• Defamation, slander, personal attacks (across various online platforms), and threats of disrupting business operations
• Persistent inquiries or repeated unwanted contact
• Trespassing on company property
• Unlawful restraint through phone calls or online means
• Discriminatory language or actions based on race, ethnicity, religion, origin, profession, etc.
• Privacy violations, such as unauthorized photography or video recording
• Sexual harassment and stalking

Undue Demands:

• Unreasonable product exchanges or monetary demands
• Unreasonable requests for apologies, particularly those targeting specific employees or partners
• Excessive demands for products or services beyond reasonable expectations
• Unreasonable and excessive demands for employee punishment

This policy reflects a necessary response to the increasing prevalence of online harassment targeting game developers. Recent examples include the targeted harassment of voice actors, such as Sena Bryer, and past incidents involving death threats against Square Enix staff, leading to arrests and event cancellations. By implementing this robust policy, Square Enix demonstrates its commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment for its team and partners.