Microsoft will compile a report on the status of all sexual harassment and gender discrimination investigations at the company — including a board investigation into sexual harassment-related allegations against former CEO Bill Gates — and plans to publicly share the findings and recommendations in the coming months.
The report plan obeys a 2021 shareholder resolution — spearheaded by Arjuna Capital — that asked the company to review its policies for protecting people from sexual abuse, harassment and gender discrimination.
Attorneys at Arent Fox have been asked to summarize the results of all sexual harassment investigations at the company, determine what the company has done to hold people accountable for the findings of the investigations and compare Microsoft's policies to those of comparable companies. Microsoft's announcement also specified that the report would address the results of the company's investigation into Gates, who has been accused of allegedly conducting an inappropriate relationship with at least one subordinate at Microsoft.
Arent Fox has not represented Microsoft in significant matters in the past and has not helped represent Microsoft in employment cases, according to Thursday's press release.