Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has long faced criticism for his company’s handling of allegations of discrimination and sexual harassment.
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Drew Angerer / Getty Images
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has long faced criticism for his company’s handling of allegations of discrimination and sexual harassment.
Drew Angerer / Getty Images
A California judge says she will approve a deal between video game giant Activision Blizzard and the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The incident stems from a complaint filed by the federal agency in September, following a years-long investigation, alleging that employees at Activision Blizzard experienced severe sexual harassment and discrimination against employees. pregnancy trial, and the company retaliated against employees who complained.
The settlement includes an $18 million fund for qualified claimants who have worked at the company beginning September 1, 2016.
“Our goal is to make Activision Blizzard a role model for the industry, and we will continue to focus on eliminating harassment and discrimination from our workplace,” the CEO said. Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick said in a declare. “The court’s approval of this settlement is an important step in ensuring that our employees have a mechanism for recourse should they experience any form of harassment or retaliation.”
The EEOC lawsuit is just one that the company has faced recently over its alleged toxic work culture.
California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing is also suing the company over equal pay, gender discrimination and sexual harassment violations.
According to court papers, the DFEH tried to intervene in the case, but was denied by the judge. Claimants applying to receive funds from the EEOC settlement waive all rights to any monetary relief provided by the DFEH lawsuit.
The company is also facing a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation regarding the handling of allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination.
Activision Blizzard is currently being acquired by Microsoft in a merger worth nearly $69 billion. That deal is still awaiting approval from federal agencies.
