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Activision Blizzard is interfering with lawsuit investigation, says DFEH

Activision Blizzard has been interfering with an investigation that investigates the ‘frat’ culture prominent within the workplace. This includes allegations of sexual harassment, general sexist behaviour, unequal pay, as well as harassment against marginalised employees.

The allegation of Activision Blizzard interfering has been shared by Axios, who explains that the Department of Fair Employment and Housing is now “turning up the heat” against the company. For example, the DFEH have now expanded their lawsuit to include temporary workers and have changed the wording in the lawsuit from ‘employees’ to ‘workers’.

Word of Activision Blizzard interfering with the lawsuit was first reported by Axios, however the updated filed lawsuit can be viewed here via Twitter.

This document outlines that Activision Blizzard have repeatedly failed to meet guidelines and regulations necessary of their company, such as retaining personal information of terminated employees or applicants for a “for a minimum of two years”.

The DFEH explains that Activision Blizzard has failed to provide them with any information regarding complaints of pay equity, discrimination, harassment, and more despite being asked to do so. Even worse, they state that they are “informed and aware” that documents have not been maintained as required by the law, including documents that the lawsuit alleges were shredded by HR within Activision Blizzard.

It should be noted that the studio have made it so that complaints being made must first go through the company ahead of contacting the DFEH. This behaviour from Activision Blizzard has made it difficult for the lawsuit to “investigate, prosecute, and remedy workplace discrimination and harassment violations on behalf of employees and contingent or temporary workers.”

The investigation of the workplace conditions within Activision Blizzard is ongoing, with more and more allegations – such as the harassment of gay and trans employees – appearing about the studio as the weeks go by.

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