Unnamed former staffer accuses Bobby Kotick of ageism
As reported bylaw360, the lawsuit cites statements allegedly made by recently-departed Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick to the effect that “there are too many old white guys” at the company, and claims that two white executives left the company shortly afterwards “based, at least in part, on Kotick’s ageist remarks”.
According to the suit, one of the above departing execs recommended the plaintiff as his replacement, but Activision Blizzard promoted a younger non-white employee instead, who became the plaintiff’s manager. The manager in question is said to have criticised the plaintiff’s work in such a way that his merit-based base salary increase for that year was the lowest he received during his tenure at the company.
The suit also claims that a woman in the plaintiff’s department made false and defamatory remarks about him to human resources and his manager, while complaining about her own merit-based salary increase being lower than expected. The plaintiff filed his own complaint with HR in response, accusing Activision Blizzard of failing to protect him from “discriminatory and defamatory accusations” and calling for “checks and balances” while insisting “that a larger issue might be brewing”. He says this complaint was ignored.
In summary, the plaintiff is asking for damages to make up for loss of earnings, negative impact to career advancement, damage to his reputation, emotional distress and wrongful termination, as well as legal costs.
Activision themselves have yet to say much about the above ageism lawsuit beyond referringGamesIndustry.bizto theirequal employment opportunity policy. In possibly relevant news, the company recentlysettleda lawsuit brought by the State of California overan alleged “frat boy” culture of sexual harassment, discrimination and unequal pay.
