Microsoft Corp. has pledged to adjust its policies on sexual harassment and gender discrimination following the results of an independent investigation. Law firm ArentFox Schiff LLP has contracted with Microsoft to review the company's policies on harassment and discrimination following a shareholder vote sparked by the 2019 allegations (and subsequent investigation) against Bill Gates (opens in new tab) last November.

In response to ArentFox Schiff's findings (opens in new tab) and recommendations, Microsoft has committed to strengthening its anti-harassment policies (opens in new tab) and procedures by June 30, 2023 (some new policies are due much sooner than that (some new policies will be due much sooner than that). Some of the pledges are technical, as one might expect, such as revising the wording of documents and making employees more aware of their rights, but Microsoft has also promised several more specific and sweeping changes.

Beginning December 1 of this year, Microsoft will release an annual report on the implementation of its policies on sexual harassment and gender discrimination. The report will detail the company's "total number of sexual harassment concerns reported, the percentage substantiated, and the types of corrective actions taken. Corrective actions in this case could mean anything from "mentoring and training" to "termination."

ArentFox Schiff also discussed the handling of complaints against senior leadership figures at Microsoft, such as the allegations against HoloLens co-creator Alex Kipman earlier this year (opens in new tab) and the complaints against Bill Gates in 2019 The committee also considered In response to the law firm's recommendation to "take steps to minimize the perception that senior leadership is not accountable," Microsoft has until March 31 to expand its use of data and analytics to "identify issues early" that need to be addressed and establish a new disciplinary decision process by the end of the year The company has promised to.

It is easy and wise to be skeptical when a company promises internal reform, especially when it is prompted by an audit commissioned by the company itself. Nevertheless, given the company's ongoing acquisition of Activision Blizzard (open in new tab) and the numerous documented accounts of widespread harassment at the company (open in new tab), it would be a good thing to think that Microsoft's ownership could bring about some positive cultural change at the company. It would be good to think that there is some potential for some positive cultural change at the company.