Judge prepared to approve Activision Blizzard's settlement with EEOC
James Batchelor
Editor-in-Chief
Wednesday 23rd March 2022
Activision Blizzard
At a glance:
The judge overseeing the case between Activision Blizzard and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is prepared to approve the settlement proposed by the two parties last year.
Axios' Stephen Totilo shared court documents showing Judge Dale S. Fischer plans to have a final hearing on the matter on Tuesday, March 29, where she expects to approve the proposal following "limited further argument" and court-requested revisions to the decree.
There will be no written decision, unless either Activision Blizzard, the EEOC or both request one.
The settlement was first discussed back in September, and followed the EEOC's own investigation into workplace issues at the Call of Duty publisher.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Activision Blizzard promised to create an $18 million fund to "compensate and make amends to eligible claimants," as determined by the EEOC.
The publisher also pledged to improve training tools to improve workplace policies and practices, hire an internal equal employment opportunity coordinator and bringing in a neutral- third-party EEO consultant approved by the EEOC.
The State of California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing objected to this agreement, claiming it would harm its own case against Activision Blizzard. One particular concern was that the settlement would release the publisher from further claims under California state law.
The DFEH attempted to block the settlement, but Judge Fischer ruled against this.
The Communications Workers of America union also objected, decrying the $18 million fund as "woefully inadequate."
During next week's hearing, Judge Fischer will allow the DFEH
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