Activision Blizzard shareholders vote in favor of employee abuse and discrimination report

Activision Blizzard shareholders voted Tuesday in favor of a proposed report on the video game company’s efforts to prevent employee abuse, harassment and discrimination.

Activision, which is being acquired by Microsoft for $68.7 billion (roughly Rs. 5,10,990 crore), has come under fire for alleged misconduct within the company.

The company’s shareholders had proposed that the report include details of the number of lawsuits and the money spent to settle related claims over the past three years.

Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services had recommended voting for the proposal. About two-thirds of the votes were in favor of the proposal, according to the company.

Activision’s board of directors and outside advisers said last week there was no evidence to suggest senior executives intentionally ignored or attempted to downplay reported instances of gender-based harassment.

The company behind hits like Candy Crush and Call of Duty has been rocked by lawsuits and worker allegations.

Its CEO Bobby Kotick apologized on behalf of the group and implemented a “zero tolerance” policy, while dozens of employees were disciplined or fired.

But according to the Wall Street Journal, the executive had been aware of the harassment reports for several years and sought to keep the incidents quiet.

In a file filed with US market regulators, the firm acknowledged Thursday the existence of cases of sexist harassment.

“The Board of Directors and its outside advisors have determined that there is no evidence to suggest that Activision Blizzard senior executives ever intentionally ignored or attempted to downplay instances of gender-based harassment that occurred and were reported,” the document reads.

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