Activision Blizzard, the gaming giant responsible for popular titles like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, has reached a settlement in a $54 million workplace discrimination lawsuit with the State of California.
The resolution addresses accusations that the company engaged in discriminatory practices against women, including allegations of denying promotional opportunities and paying female employees less than their male counterparts for comparable work. The California Civil Rights Department made this announcement late on a Friday. the gaming giant
Pending court approval, the settlement establishes eligibility for compensation for women who were employed by Activision Blizzard between October 12, 2015, and December 31, 2020. An allocated sum of approximately $45.75 million from the settlement will be dedicated to compensating those affected, as outlined by the state agency.
Activision Blizzard also agreed to take steps to ensure “fair pay and promotion practices” at the company.
“We appreciate the importance of the issues addressed in this agreement and we are dedicated to fully implementing all the new obligations we have assumed as part of it,” Activision Blizzard said Saturday
The company also noted that the California Civil Rights Department agreed to file an amended complaint that withdraws sexual harassment allegations.
California’s civil rights agency sued Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard in July 2021, alleging that female employees faced constant sexual harassment, that few women were named to leadership roles and that when they were, they earned less salary, incentive pay and total compensation than male peers.