Activision Blizzard has agree to pay a fine of thirty-five million dollars for charges of „workplace misconduc. With which it had been charge by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The SEC investigation into the matter began in September 2021. As part of the investigation, CEO Bobby Kotick and other senior executives were subpoenae to provide internal communications regarding. The company’s response to allegations of misconduct and harassment.
Activision Blizzard to pay $35 million fine to SEC over labour practices
Upon completion of that investigation, the SEC rule that Activision Blizzard had faile to maintain. The necessary controls and procedures to properly collect and analyse employee complaints. The company’s management, they said, did not have sufficient information „to understand the volume and severity of employee complaints about misconduct in the workplace”.
In another charge, moreover, the SEC argue that Activision Blizzard had violate its rules. The protection of anonymous whistleblowers by forcing former. To inform the company if they received a request for information from the SEC commission.
Activision Blizzard to pay $35 million fine to SEC over labour practices
In a statement to the press, Activision Blizzard said, „We are please to have resolved this matter amicably. As acknowledged in the order, we have improve our disclosure processes with respect to workplace reporting and have updated our contract language”.
This new fine is in addition to the eighteen million dollar fine they already paid in March of last year for a 2021 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit. That lawsuit followed an investigation by California state authorities that describe Activision Blizzard as „a breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women”.