(Reuters) – As per the government’s announcement on Wednesday, Microsoft Corp has consented to pay $14 million to resolve allegations made by a California agency that it unlawfully penalised employees for taking medical or family leave.
In state court documents, the California Civil Rights Department charged that the tech giant was depriving its California-based employees who had taken parental, disability, pregnancy, and family-care leave since 2017 of stock awards, promotions, and increases as retaliation.
The agency stated that such employees, who were predominately women and persons with disabilities, had lower performance evaluation ratings, which in turn affected their compensation and possibilities for advancement as well as their career path.