The lawyers will also review the company’s policy on sexually transgressive behavior and gender-based discrimination. With this, Microsoft is fulfilling a wish from activist shareholder Arjuna Capital, who requested this last year.
After Bill Gates announced that he and his wife, Melinda French Gates, were divorcing, reports surfaced of possible inappropriate behavior towards Microsoft employees by the former CEO. The company acknowledged that it received a complaint in 2019, when Gates was on Microsoft’s board of directors, and that in 2000 he attempted to begin a relationship with an employee. The Microsoft board has investigated this, but that investigation has not been completed, as Gates stepped down as director in 2020. He is still an advisor to the company.
Law firm Arent Fox LLP, which according to Microsoft has a lot of experience in this field, must investigate the course of events. It will also look at how similar complaints against other directors and senior managers have been handled and to what extent they have been held accountable. The researchers will also make recommendations to improve policy.
Arjuna Capital has already pressured several large companies over issues such as gender pay gaps and between ethnic groups.
#Microsoft #investigate #potential #sexual #harassment #policy #Bill #Gates