Activision Blizzard, the creators of "Call of Duty," have reached a $50 million settlement to resolve a discrimination lawsuit filed by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) in 2021. The lawsuit alleged that the gaming giant treated its female employees unfairly by denying promotions and paying them less than their male counterparts.
Following a two-year investigation, the CRD asserted that Activision had a consistent practice of underpaying female employees and neglecting them for promotions. Additionally, the company was accused of turning a blind eye to instances of sexual harassment. In an effort to rectify these issues, Activision has committed to implementing measures to ensure fair pay and promotion practices. The settlement also includes financial compensation for women who were employees or contract workers in California between October 12, 2015, and December 31, 2020.
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The settlement agreement, which is still pending court approval, addresses allegations of gender discrimination, encompassing the denial of deserving promotions and unequal pay for similar work performed by male and female employees. The CRD will withdraw claims related to systemic sexual harassment.
Activision, in a statement, emphasized that neither the courts nor independent investigations found evidence supporting widespread sexual harassment at the company. Furthermore, the company asserted that there was no indication of improper conduct by its board or CEO in handling cases of workplace misconduct.
It is noteworthy that in 2021, Activision had previously agreed to pay up to $18 million to settle similar claims brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Microsoft's acquisition of Activision for nearly $69 billion in October marked a significant development in the gaming industry.
