Harassment

Activision Blizzard shareholders on Tuesday approved a plan for the company to release an annual, public report detailing its handling of sexual harassment and gender discrimination disputes, and how the company is working to prevent these incidences. The proposal was initially made in February by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Under the proposal, Activision Blizzard will have to publicly disclose the following information each year: The number and total dollar amount of disputes settled by the studio…

Activision Blizzard here, to tell you that Activision Blizzard has done nothing wrong An internal investigation from Activision Blizzard’s Board of Directors claims the company has found “no evidence” that its executives ignored or dismissed reported cases of harassment. The investigation, conducted by the Activision Blizzard board with external advisors, concludes the Board did not intentionally ignore or attempt to downplay instances of harassment that were reported. An SEC filing details Activision Blizzard’s…

The board of directors of US video game publisher Activision Blizzard said on Thursday that there was no evidence to suggest that management had ignored or minimized accusations of sexual harassment.The firm behind hits like Candy Crush and Call of Duty, which Microsoft is acquiring in a blockbuster $69 billion deal (roughly Rs. 5,38,424 crore), has been roiled by lawsuits and workers' allegations.Its CEO Bobby Kotick has apologized on behalf of the group and implemented a "zero tolerance" policy, while dozens of…

Activision Blizzard has published the findings of its internal investigation of workplace misconduct within the company, which says “no widespread harassment” took place between September 2016 and December 2021. Today (June 16), Activision Blizzard shared the findings of an investigation carried out by its own board and a Workplace Responsibility Committee of independent directors. The report claims that the company board and its “external advisors” found “no evidence to suggest that Activision Blizzard senior executives…

The review, conducted by independent directors on the Activision board’s Workplace Responsibility Committee and external advisers, also didn’t unearth any evidence to suggest that any senior executive or employee tried to conceal information from the board. “Contrary to many of the allegations, the Board and its external advisers have determined that there is no evidence to suggest that Activision Blizzard senior executives ever intentionally ignored or attempted to downplay the instances of gender harassment that…

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has begun accepting claims related to Activision Blizzard’s with the agency. Starting today, current and former US employees of the publisher who believe they experienced sexual harassment or gender discrimination while working at its offices from September 1st, 2016 to March 29th, 2022 can file for an award. Those who decide to take part in the claims process can also make specific non-monetary requests of Activision Blizzard and the EEOC. For instance, they can ask…

A judge in Peru ruled against archaeologist Marcela Poirier on 23 May in a defamation lawsuit brought by Luis Jaime Castillo Butters, a prominent Peruvian archaeologist she accused of sexual harassment. Poirier, a manager of cultural and educational resources in Lima, Peru, was fined $48,400 and given a suspended jail sentence of 1 year and 8 months. “I am heartbroken,” Poirier tweeted on 25 May. “There is no justice in this country.” The judge’s decision is “arbitrary” and…

Microsoft has acknowledged allegations of harassment within the company, stating that there will be “clear action taken” for any claim that can be verified. Earlier in the week, a detailed report by Insider accused several executives within Microsoft of “verbal abuse and sexual harassment“. Now, Microsoft has shared a statement responding to the allegations: “Every reported claim we receive is investigated, and for every claim found substantiated there is clear action taken. This disciplinary action can range from…

Multiple current and former Microsoft executives have been accused of verbal and sexual harassment, despite the company still apparently treating some of them as “golden boys”. This comes from an Insider report published yesterday on May 25 (via Windows Central), which accuses multiple executives at the company of both “verbal abuse and sexual harassment”. The report takes particular aim at Alex Kipman, who was the lead developer of the HoloLens smart glasses and assisted with the development of the Xbox Kinect…

A lawsuit that accuses Tesla of fostering a workplace with “rampant” sexual harassment will continue in court after a California judge denied the company’s motion for arbitration, as first reported by Bloomberg. Although the female worker who brought up the case signed an arbitration agreement at Tesla, terminating her rights to sue, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Stephen Kaus still moved forward with the decision on Monday. Jessica Barraza filed the lawsuit last year, claiming she was subject to catcalling, lewd…