A judge has approved Activision Blizzard‘s $18 million settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The case stemmed from a complaint the federal agency filed after a years-long investigation, which alleged employees at the company were subjected to severe sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination. It’s the latest high-profile settlement for the EEOC, which is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee.
“The agreement we reached with the EEOC last year reflected our unwavering commitment to ensure a safe and equitable working environment for all employees,” Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a press release. “Our goal is to make Activision Blizzard a model for the industry, and we will continue to focus on eliminating harassment and discrimination from our workplace. The court’s approval of this settlement is an important step in ensuring that our employees have mechanisms for recourse if they experienced any form of harassment or retaliation.”
Most employers with at least 15 employees are covered by EEOC laws (20 employees in age discrimination cases). Most labor unions and employment agencies are also covered. The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits.
The EEOC was founded as part of the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 to enforce Title VII of that Act, which prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.