Former Activision Executive Alleges Age Discrimination and Whistleblower Retaliation

A lawsuit has been filed in California state court by a former Activision executive, accusing the company of age discrimination and violating whistleblower protection laws, as reported by Law360. The plaintiff, who worked at Activision from 2014 until his layoff in August 2023, alleges that the company's leadership made statements indicating a bias against older white employees. The lawsuit cites several instances of alleged discrimination, including the plaintiff being passed over for a promotion in favor of a younger, non-white employee. The plaintiff also claims that he was subjected to a hostile work environment and had his merit-based salary increase reduced after speaking out about the alleged discrimination. After filing a complaint with human resources, the plaintiff was allegedly ignored and eventually laid off as part of a restructuring effort. The lawsuit seeks damages for loss of earnings, career advancement, reputational damage, emotional distress, and wrongful termination. This is not the first time Activision Blizzard has faced allegations of discrimination, having settled lawsuits in 2022 and 2023 related to harassment and discrimination against women and pregnant employees.