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Microsoft hires law firm to review sexual harassment policies

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Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft) listens as an audience member asks questions during Microsoft’s annual shareholder meetings in Bellevue. Wash. on November 30 2016.

Stephen Brashear | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Microsoft’sThe board announced Thursday that it would review the policies of the software company regarding sexual harassment. It will issue a report to shareholders by spring following the November meeting. approved a proposalFor a report about the subject.

This assessment is the result of years of complaints regarding Microsoft’s investigation of employees’ concerns.

Arent Fox, a law firm in Washington and other U.S. cities will conduct the review. Arent Fox has offices in Washington, and in other U.S. locations, but the board stated that Arent Fox had not done “a substantial amount of work” for Microsoft in the past. Although Arjuna Capital did not request it in their shareholder proposal, the review will examine Microsoft’s harassment handling.

Arent Fox will present a report with suggestions to the board, while executives will demonstrate a plan for the board to implement the recommendations. The board will then release to the public a report that outlines how Microsoft plans to change its handling of harassment.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO said that “our culture is our top priority” and added that the Board recognizes the importance of creating a safe environment and an inclusive work place for all employees. We’re not content with reviewing the report. Instead, we will use the information to help improve the experience of all our employees. This comprehensive review is an opportunity for me to improve.”

Nadella confronted the subjectLast May was the anniversary of reports suggesting that Bill Gates (original CEO and cofounder of Microsoft) had had a relationship with an employee back in 2000. Microsoft was informed of the situation and an investigation committee set up to investigate it. Gates left Microsoft’s board2020. Nadella indicated that any person can bring up a problem, even if the issue is more than two decades old. The company will then take appropriate action. Microsoft’s board announced Thursday that it will summarise the findings of all investigations including one into Gates.

In the report, there will be a discussion about harassment and discrimination of female employees. a 2019 email chainThe company’s reaction.

Arjuna Capital also referred to Microsoft’s Gates lawsuit and emails in its shareholder proposal. 238 Microsoft employees complained of harassment. These allegations were repeatedly denied by Microsoft’s human resource team, and they only found one basis for them.

In a 2020 lawsuit, Katie Moussouris, a former employee of Microsoft claimed that Microsoft was guilty of sexual discrimination in favors women working in engineering and technical positions.

She stated in her initial 2015 complaint that she had previously complained in 2008 about a male Director harassing women employees. Microsoft discovered that this was true and moved the director to another part of the company, allowing him to retain his title. Moussouris claimed that she had complained to the director after he gave her a small bonus. But Microsoft did not do anything. Later, she said that he received a promotion.

Other large tech companies employ workers AppleAnd GoogleThey raised questions about how their employers handled harassment complaints. 2020: Google settled a lawsuitWith shareholders regarding allegations of misconduct by senior executives. The company then announced a new set of practices.

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