Activision Blizzard clears itself of wrongdoing in internal investigation

Activision Blizzard has revealed the outcome of an investigation it conducted on itself, stating that it found no evidence of systemic harassment at the company.

The findings: Activision Blizzard has cleared Activision Blizzard.

• The gaming giant conducted its own investigation to look into lawsuits that allege a host of internal workplace issues.
• Its board of directors has now published the findings of the inquiry, which in summary states that there isn't widespread or systemic harassment at the company.
• While the board looked into the claims itself, the report states that it received assistance from external advisors, including Gilbert Casellas — a former Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal U.S. agency that enforces civil rights laws against workplace discrimination.
• Casella reviewed data from collected reports of gender harassment and found that there was "no widespread harassment, pattern or practice of harassment, or systemic harassment at Activision Blizzard or at any of its business units."

Moving forward: Activision Blizzard's still looking to get bought out by Microsoft for almost $69B.

• Despite clearing itself of any wrongdoing — though several lawsuits against the company are still outstanding — Activision Blizzard has implemented a host of "comprehensive reforms and improvements" across the company.
• Some of the changes include tripling its investment in anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training, launching a "zero-tolerance" harassment policy, and launching an annual process that allows employees to provide feedback to managers anonymously.
• "We recognize none of these improvements can change the past for those who experienced inappropriate workplace conduct," the report reads. "Over the years the Company has appropriately disciplined and exited employees to ensure that our practices match our policies. There simply is no room at Activision Blizzard for anyone who does not practice our corporate value of providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming workplace that serves as a model for our industry."