WSJ: Microsoft Shareholders Force Company to Disclose Sexual Harassment Data

The tech giant had recommended a vote against the disclosure proposal, which was approved at the company’s annual meeting

By Aaron Tilley, November 30, 2021

An investor proposal to Microsoft Corp. MSFT +1.58% demanding greater disclosure on its handling of sexual harassment at the company was approved at the annual shareholders’ meeting on Tuesday.

The proposal requested an annual report that summarized the number of sexual harassment cases investigated and their resolution, as well as results of any independent investigation into Microsoft’s executives, including co-founder Bill Gates.

A Wall Street Journal report, citing people familiar with the matter, earlier this year said Microsoft board members pursued an investigation into the billionaire’s prior romantic relationship with a female. Mr. Gates stepped down from the board last year.

Microsoft had recommended shareholders vote against the proposal. Ahead of the vote, it said it would begin to disclose its implementation of sexual harassment and gender discrimination policies annually, but the company didn’t agree to disclose independent investigations into executives.

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