California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed an objection to the settlement between Activision-Blizzard and the EEOC. The DFEH argues that there are still questions concerning whether employees will be able to recover monetary damages for unpaid overtime wages through the agreement, which is against California law.
The “California’s DFEH files an objection to the settlement between Activision-Blizzard and the EEOC” is about a California Department of Fair Employment and Housing filing an objection to the settlement between Activision-Blizzard and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
When Activision-Blizzard struck a deal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), it seemed as if the firm had finally escaped a bullet in its protracted litigation drama, but that now seems to be less probable. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed a motion in court to halt the settlement, claiming that clauses in the agreement could allow Blizzard to remove evidence of sexual harassment reporting and the possibility of redistributing some settlement funds back into Activision-Blizzard programs.
This development follows the DFEH’s August allegation that Blizzard had already been unlawfully deleting data, making the possibility of any further deletions a little hazy to say the least. Activision-Blizzard, for their part, has reacted by denying any misconduct and highlighting the benefits of the proposed EEOC settlement:
Activision-Blizzard is dedicated to becoming the most welcoming, inclusive, and safe workplace possible. Our agreement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission demonstrates our commitment to substantial changes and openness, as well as providing immediate pay to qualified workers who want to participate. Activision Blizzard is committed to creating a workplace free of any kind of discrimination, harassment, or unfair treatment.
It would be fascinating to watch how this specific injunction plays out, since the DFEH has claimed that it is directly related to and may damage its current case. The EEOC also neglected to communicate with DFEH about the planned settlement and did not wait until the current legal case was resolved, complicated the agreement even more. This implies that anybody at Activision-Blizzard who was previously relaxed about the deal is now a bit more nervous.
Due to a lengthy series of controversies in the MMO and gaming sector over the past several years, including the Blitzchung boycott, huge layoffs, labor conflicts, and executive pay debacle, Activision-Blizzard is regarded a problematic business in the MMO and gaming industry. The company was sued by the state of California in the summer of 2021 for fostering a work environment that was riddled with sexual harassment and discrimination, and the company’s disastrous response has added to Blizzard’s ongoing pipeline issues and the widespread perception that its online games are on the decline. Multiple state and federal authorities are investigating the business as of autumn 2021.
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