Shareholders of Microsoft have started pressuring the company to increase transparency over its sexual harassment history after recent allegations against Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
More than 75% of investors at the company’s annual meeting voted in favour of the tech giant publishing a report on the efficacy of the company’s sexual harassment policies, going against the company’s recommendations to reject the proposal.
Bill Gates, who is 66, resigned from the Microsoft board last year after an investigation was opened into a relationship that Gates had with a colleague, which started in 2000. This affair was only brought into the light in May this year, a few weeks after Bill Gates and Melinda Gates announced to the world their plans to get a divorce.
Since then, multiple reports have come out that Bill Gates, who co-founded the company had made repetitive unwanted advances to Microsoft employees after he and Melinda got married in 1994. Reports further stated that Bill Gates was warned about his inappropriate conduct back in 2008.
The shareholder proposal was submitted by investor Arjuna Capital, and made a call for Microsoft to put out a report on transparency which would contain details of investigations into the conduct of individual employees.
Arjuna Capital had mentioned that reports of Bill Gates’ inappropriate affairs and unwanted sexual advances made towards Microsoft employees have only magnified concerns, putting under question the culture which had been set by the very leadership of the company, as well as the role of the board in holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
The company board had encouraged shareholders to reject the proposal, with the argument that it was throwing more resources into fighting sexual harassment. It is rare to see shareholder proposals that are strongly opposed by the company pass by such a large margin.
Natasha Lamb said that while the accusations against Bill Gates are only the most recent revelations in what has been a long-standing problem, it is significant and encouraging that Microsoft is now listening to shareholders while committing to transparent and unbiased reporting.
