Under the agreement, Activision committed to create an $18
million fund to compensate and make amends to eligible claimants, the owner of
"Call of Duty" and "Candy Crush" franchises said in a
statement.
The EEOC, which been investigating allegations of sexual
harassment, discrimination and retaliation at Activision for three years, found
that the company failed to take corrective and preventive measures on sexual
harassment complaints, according to a filing in the U.S. District Court of the
Central District of California.
Activision Blizzard said it is appointing a third-party
consultant for oversight and a review of the company's practices. Its findings
will be regularly reported to the board of directors as well as the Commission,
it said.
"There is no place anywhere at our company for
discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment of any kind, and I am grateful
to the employees who bravely shared their experiences," Activision
Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in the statement.
"I am sorry that anyone had to experience inappropriate
conduct, and I remain unwavering in my commitment to make Activision Blizzard
one of the world's most inclusive, respected, and respectful workplaces,"
he said.
Last week, the company said that it was continuing to work
with regulators on addressing and resolving the workplace complaints it has
received.