Microsoft will amp up its anti-harassment rules after investigation following Gates affair

Microsoft’s adjusting its sexual harassment insurance policies in response to findings from ArentFox Schiff, the regulation agency it employed to judge the corporate’s practices over issues about sexual misconduct and discrimination within the office. The 50-page report lays out a sequence of suggestions that Microsoft will implement by June thirtieth, 2023, with some coming into power sooner than that.

In a put up on the Microsoft weblog, the corporate’s response commits to publishing an annual report on the corporate’s sexual harassment and gender discrimination insurance policies, which is able to embody the variety of reported incidents and the actions taken consequently. It additionally goals to revise its anti-harassment and discrimination coverage, in addition to revamp the way in which it conducts investigations.

Along with offering suggestions, the report additionally outlines current harassment and discrimination incidents at Microsoft. In line with the report, Microsoft obtained a complete of 721 whole complaints from 2019 to 2021, with 453 gender discrimination stories making up the bulk, adopted by 210 sexual harassment and 58 gender harassment complaints.

One other part addresses the allegations caused by an Insider report from earlier this 12 months, which alleges that the corporate let “golden boy” executives get away with inappropriate conduct. The executives implicated within the report, HoloLens co-creator Alex Kipman and cloud govt Tom Keane, resigned over the summer season, however ArentFox Schiff’s report suggests there was “a level of proof that they have been participating in inappropriate conduct towards feminine staff” and that the problem “might have been addressed sooner than it was.”

“Cultivating a tradition the place everyone seems to be empowered to do significant work and may thrive is our biggest accountability at Microsoft,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella mentioned in an announcement. “The Board of Administrators has taken this investigation critically and the ensuing complete report outlines essential areas the place we are able to proceed to enhance, in addition to progress we’ve made.”