“I will sign the consent decree, which will close this case,” Fischer told a DFEH spokesman in the phone call, who first sued Activision Blizzard and asked to delay the approval of the settlement. “You have already submitted a proposal. Your request is untimely. Talk to the 9th track. “ The story goes on under the ad Anyone who has worked for Activision Blizzard from September 1, 2016 until today can file a claim, specifically for sexual harassment, retaliation or pregnancy discrimination. The EEOC arrangement is for participation only, so applicants must submit documents to be considered for exemption. Those who choose to be part of the EEOC arrangement will waive their right to be part of the California Civil Service Act on specific issues of harassment, retaliation, or pregnancy discrimination. If they have other claims – for example, pay inequality, which is not covered by the EEOC agreement with Activision Blizzard – these former or current Activision Blizzard employees may still be suing the State of California. The case of each individual will depend on his experiences in the company. “You can not take a double dip. That’s the reality of these settlements, “said Anna Park, the EEOC’s Los Angeles County District Attorney. “It simply came to our notice then. . We want to encourage everyone to make a very informed decision. “ The story goes on under the ad In a post-settlement press release on Tuesday, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said the company ‘s goal is to become “a role model for the industry and we will continue to focus on eliminating harassment and discrimination in our workplace”. . “The approval of this arrangement by the court is an important step to ensure that our employees have redress mechanisms in case they have suffered any form of harassment or retaliation.” Following the settlement, EEOC spokeswoman Nicole St. Germain said the committee was pleased with the result. Two women who previously worked for Activision Blizzard but have left the company told The Post that they would apply to be sued in the EEOC case because they wanted to see the company accountable. The story goes on under the ad “For me, I just want a solution. “I want something to happen,” said a former Texas Activision Blizzard employee who said she experienced sexual harassment, discrimination and sexism while in the company. “I do not want him to shoot anymore. “I think this is the most important thing at this point, because I think people need to see that it has an end and an effect.” The EEOC, a federal agency, and the DFEH, a government agency, have joint jurisdiction over sexual harassment cases in the workplace, and both agencies received anonymous advice in 2018 to investigate Activision Blizzard. The two agencies have been embroiled in a dispute over how much victims should be paid in the settlement and are concerned that a settlement between the EEOC and Activision Blizzard at federal level could prevent DFEH from seeking further compensation at state level. The final approval of the September settlement was postponed for March, due to the constant exchange of views between the institutions. The story goes on under the ad “DFEH will continue to vigorously prosecute Activision in a California court,” DFEH spokesman Fahizah Alim said in a statement last week. “In recent weeks, DFEH has rejected Activision’s request for the Court to dismiss DFEH’s case, and DFEH has sought documents and other evidence of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation for many years by Activision. The Court has set a trial date of February 2023 “. Critics of the EEOC settlement, in addition to DFEH, include a significant number of Activision Blizzard employees and their ally, the Communications Workers of America (CWA). They believe that the sum of 18 million dollars is insufficient for possibly hundreds or more victims. In a letter to the EEOC on October 6, the CWA described the $ 18 million as “sadly inadequate” and said that Activision Blizzard and CWA officials had “serious concerns” about the settlement agreement. EEOC lawyers say the $ 18 million is still a significant amount of money and that because the majority of Activision Blizzard’s 10,000 employees are men, it is unlikely that there will be thousands of plaintiffs who will distribute the funds. The $ 18 million settlement with the EEOC is the second largest sexual harassment settlement the agency has ever negotiated. “We certainly believe there is more than enough capital in this $ 18 million,” Elena Baka, a law firm partner with Paul Hastings and Activision Blizzard legal adviser on the EEOC suit, told The Post. “When you look at other settlements, sometimes people think, ‘Well, everyone who works has to be paid.’ But that is not the case here. “It is to the extent that there are people who have well-founded concerns and allegations that they want the EEOC to evaluate and make an evaluation.” The story goes on under the ad Last December, Riot Games announced that it was settling a 2018 gender discrimination lawsuit with California government agencies and current and former female employees for $ 100 million. This lawsuit has been cited as a benchmark in litigation involving the proposed Activision Blizzard-EEOC settlement. “I know the focus has always been on money, but it’s not just money and it can’t be money,” Park said. “As a law enforcement authority, it has to do with how you go about bringing the company into compliance, because that affects the daily lives of a lot of people.” P. Andrew Torrez, who owns a law firm and hosts the Opision Arguments podcast, which covers the Activision Blizzard suit, said last week that the judge’s ruling was a victory for Activision Blizzard and could help deflate treatment by DFEH. The story goes on under the ad “It’s a clear victory for Activision Blizzard. “They are losing a small amount and are essentially undermining state law procedures where the civil service has been much more aggressive,” Torrez said, referring to the DFEH lawsuit. Activision had revenue of $ 2.16 billion in the quarter ended December and a total of $ 8.8 billion in 2021. Baca, Activision’s legal adviser, said it was “fair to call the settlement” a profit for the company. “I really think it’s more of a victory for people who have claims,” Baca said. “This idea of waiting for different lawsuits – who knows what will happen with this lawsuit? People could always make their claims, they will never stop, they could arbitrate, they can sue, they can file whatever they deem appropriate… This actually brings definiteness and a process to people who are not available elsewhere “. The story goes on under the ad In addition to the $ 18 million paid to plaintiffs, Activision Blizzard must also set up anti-harassment and anti-discrimination programs at the EEOC-controlled company. The rest of the funds could go to charities to promote women in gambling or to raise awareness of gender equality, the company said in a press release to investors last September. Activision is legally obliged to deposit the funds in a guarantee account within 30 days. As part of the agreement with the EEOC and in addition to the $ 18 million, Activision is called upon to expand mental health counseling services and add a new staff appraisal process where employees can comment on their bosses. An independent Equal Employment Expert hired by the company will report to the EEOC. The company must also provide compulsory sexual harassment training that is live and interactive. The agreement would be valid for three years. If Activision does not comply, the EEOC could request any form of relief, including fines or, in extreme cases, penalties. EEOC lawyers say that if the compliance does not meet the standards, they could ask for an extension. “I have a daughter from college and another who is coming out of high school and joining the workforce,” Park said. “And you never want their first work experience to be where they are harassed. We strive to create and improve a working environment. That’s our job to serve this public interest. “
