Microsoft Launches Review of its Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination Policies
- Paul Thurrott
- Jan 14, 2022
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Microsoft announced that it will review the effectiveness of its sexual harassment and gender discrimination policies. The review was prompted by the public disclosure of an internal investigation into co-founder Bill Gates, who is the subject of multiple allegations from former female employees of the software giant.
“Our culture remains our number one priority and the entire Board appreciates the critical importance of a safe and inclusive environment for all Microsoft employees,” Microsoft CEO Satay Nadella said. “We’re committed not just to reviewing the report but learning from the assessment so we can continue to improve the experiences of our employees. I embrace this comprehensive review as an opportunity to continue to get better.”
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For this review, Microsoft has hired a third-party, Arent Fox, to assess the scope of a 2019 shareholder resolution calling on the company to release the results of an internal investigation into Gates’ behavior during his time as a company executive. Microsoft will also release a summary of those results and the steps the firm has taken to hold employees, including executives, accountable for sexual harassment or gender discrimination.
The most unusual part of this episode is Microsoft’s promise to release a transparency report, publicly, that assesses its workplace sexual harassment and gender discrimination policies, training, and related policies. This report will include the “concerns raised by employees in 2019 in an ‘In Need of Assistance’ email thread, steps the company has taken to respond to these concerns, and additional steps that could further strengthen these safeguards. The review will also include an analysis of policies, practices, and commitments to create a safe, inclusive work environment.”
Finally, Microsoft will compare its current policies against what it calls the “best practices” used by other companies, and it will improve where needed to meet or exceed those practices.
It’s not clear what the timeframe is for this investigation or the resulting reports.