Activision Blizzard is paying an $18 million settlement after being accused by a U.S. government agency of harassment and discrimination, stemming from claims of sexual harassment, retaliation for complaining about such actions and unfair compensation for female employees.
Activision Blizzard is the gaming company behind Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush.
“There is no place anywhere at our company for discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment of any kind, and I am grateful to the employees who bravely shared their experiences,” Bobby Kotick, CEO of the company said in a statement.
The lawsuit was filed in July by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and claimed that the culture of the workplace put women in a position of constant discrimination. The company was charged with failing to take seriously the concerns voiced by the employees complaining of sexual harassment.
“I remain unwavering in my commitment to make Activision Blizzard one of the world's most inclusive, respected, and respectful workplaces,” Kotick said.
At one point, hundreds of employees staged a walkout from the company offices in Irvine.
"We will continue to be vigilant in our commitment to the elimination of harassment and discrimination in the workplace. We thank the EEOC for its constructive engagement as we work to fulfill our commitments to eradicate inappropriate conduct in the workplace,” Kotick said.
Despite his claims of remorse for the way in which Activision Blizzard acted, the company denied any wrongdoing in various court documents.
Sexual harassment claims included women being subjected to comments about their bodies and jokes about raping and groping. Women were also given lower level jobs and paid less than their male counterparts.
The company also had a complaint leveled against it by the Communications Workers of America labor union, which claimed that Activision Blizzard violated federal labor law.