New Policy Safeguards Employees from Harassment

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 from online abuse and threats. The policy explicitly defines various forms of harassment, ranging from direct threats of violence and defamation to more subtle forms of intimidation and online abuse.

The gaming industry increasingly faces the challenge of online harassment, with high-profile incidents involving death threats and the cancellation of events due to threats of violence. Square Enix's new policy is a direct response to this growing concern, aiming to create a safer environment for its workforce.

The policy, detailed on the Square Enix website, covers a wide spectrum of unacceptable behavior directed at employees and partners at all levels of the company. While encouraging feedback, Square Enix firmly states that harassment will not be tolerated. The policy specifically outlines actions considered harassment, including:

Examples of Harassment:

• Threats of violence or acts of violence.
• Abusive language, intimidation, coercion, or undue pressure.
• Defamation, slander, personal attacks (across various online platforms), or threats of business disruption.
• Persistent, unwanted contact or repeated visits.
• Unauthorized entry onto company property.
• Unlawful restraint through phone calls or online inquiries.
• Discriminatory language or behavior targeting race, ethnicity, religion, or other protected characteristics.
• Privacy violations such as unauthorized photography or video recording.
• Sexual harassment or stalking.

Examples of Undue Demands:

• Unreasonable requests for product changes, exchanges, or monetary compensation.
• Excessive demands for apologies, particularly those specifying employee positions.
• Requests for products or services exceeding reasonable expectations.
• Unreasonable demands for employee punishment.

Square Enix reserves the right to deny services to individuals engaging in harassment and may pursue legal action or involve law enforcement in cases of malicious intent. This proactive measure reflects the company's commitment to the safety and well-being of its staff, following past incidents including death threats against employees and event cancellations due to similar threats. The policy serves as a clear message that such behavior will not be condoned.