Activision Blizzard settles $18m suit with EEOC

pcgamesinsider.biz:

US publishing giant Activision Blizzard has settled the lawsuit brought against it by the US' Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

In a release on its investor relations portals, the Call of Duty maker revealed that the matter had been brought to a close and that it would be setting aside the previously-announced $18 million to compensate those impacted by harassment and discrimination while working at the firm.

“The agreement we reached with the EEOC last year reflected our unwavering commitment to ensure a safe and equitable working environment for all employees,” said Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick. “Our goal is to make Activision Blizzard a model for the industry, and we will continue to focus on eliminating harassment and discrimination from our workplace. The court’s approval of this settlement is an important step in ensuring that our employees have mechanisms for recourse if they experienced any form of harassment or retaliation.”

Kotick continued: “We are gratified that the federal court that reviewed our settlement with the EEOC is finding that it is ‘fair, reasonable and adequate and advance(s) the public interest.’ The Court’s approval is a vital step in our journey to ensuring that everyone at Activision Blizzard always feels safe, heard and empowered. We hope the court’s findings – including its view that many of the objections raised about our settlement were inaccurate and speculative – will dispel any confusion that may exist. With all of the terms of the settlement reviewed and approved, we can move forward."

Not everyone is happy with the settlement. As reported by the LA Times, the secretary-treasurer of union the Communication Workers of America, Sara Steffens, said that they were