SEC digs into Activision Blizzard’s inapt workplace oddity

Video game titan Activision Blizzard disclosed on Monday it is once more under the investigative spotlight as U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is examining its demeanor concerning workplace sexual harassment environment and various discriminatory issues, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

The SEC initiated a solidified investigation into the Santa Monica-based company regarding its techniques of classifying employees’ allegations of sexual wrongdoing and workplace discrimination. The Commission subpoenaed the Call of Duty developer alongside a mass of its senior executives for disclosing information circulating these claims.

The filed subpoena also addressed the company’s CEO Bobby Kotick, as it requested data about its employees’ personal files, communications, and board meetings minutes.

“The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is conducting an investigation concerning the company’s disclosures regarding employment matters and related issues and has issued subpoenas to the Company, and several current and former employees that seek information related to this,” Activision Blizzard spokesperson said in a statement.

“The company is cooperating with the SEC,” he added.

In past months, Activision spent its summer fighting sexual harassment and workplace discrimination accusations, followed by California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) officially suing the video game behemoth by publicizing that its top-ranked executives were either familiar or immersed in unequal pay cases.

The most consequential perplexity was that the company promoted men over women, leading to an extensive overtake of sexual harassment in the company’s environment. The complaint stressed that a bundle of male employees would indulge in conversation with sexual nature and joked about rape.

The DFEH referred to the gaming giant employees’ hospitality as a “frat boy workplace culture” where men have the absolute freedom to bluntly joke about sensitive topics such as rape and sexual encounters.

Since then, various top executives submitted their resignations over a scandal where a woman committed suicide on a company trip after declarations of enduring intensive sexual harassment at work. While 1,500 employees revolted at the way Activision dealt with the incident, the company itself dismissed any allegations on the matter.

While the gaming giant did not budge to release a statement addressing the events taking place on its ground, its CEO Bobby Kotick apologized for Activision’s initial response to the lawsuit. Ever since the official apology, the head of Activision Blizzard Entertainment subsidiary bowed out from his position in the company.

At the time being, the company is seeking two new executives to fill in the void, alongside a new human resources manager.