If you’ve been paying attention to the news about Activision Blizzard, a company that has produced popular video games like Overwatch and World of Warcraft you may have heard that the company is facing a lawsuit that alleges that it promotes a toxic work environment in the video game industry.
The lawsuit, which was filed by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, stated that the company has a culture of gender discrimination that distinctly impacted women in the workplace. Out of around 9,500 employees, only 20% are women, according to the court documents.
What the DFEH had to say about the issue
The DFEH found that the company had allowed sexual harassment with impunity and that complaints from women were widespread. They regularly commented on being pursued by men in the workplace, groped and otherwise harassed. In one case, there is an allegation that a woman was subjected to sexual harassment on a company trip and subsequently killed herself.
The investigation also determined that the company was less likely to promote women and consistently paid them less than their male counterparts, a form of gender discrimination. When complaints were made, the human resources department did not keep them confidential. This, the DFEH claims, led to retaliation.
For its part, the company denies that the DFEH’s findings are accurate, claiming that the depictions of the company’s workplace are distorted and false.
What should you do if you are a victim in your workplace?
If you face discrimination against you because of your gender or are sexually harassed on the job, you have legal options. If your human resources department does not take action, you can report your issue to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and look into your legal rights. No one should discriminate against you or harass you when you’re doing your job. You have a right to fight back.