Under the new process, which will be fully implemented by November, senior leaders will no longer be directly involved in investigating some complaints, those involving issues like harassment, discrimination and retaliation. Instead, trained employees in Microsoft’s human resources department will take over that role.
Microsoft said it was making the change to make investigations fairer, more objective and more consistent across the company. The changes come after a year in which the tech industry has come under intense scrutiny over sexual harassment and misogyny. Several prominent Silicon Valley executives were accused of misconduct last year, and several others were ousted from their companies after investigations substantiated the accusations.
Critics have said that Microsoft has been slow to address the issue of sexual harassment and that its processes for investigating complaints have not been effective. In February, a group of Microsoft employees said that the company had failed to adequately address their concerns about a senior executive.
Microsoft denied those allegations, saying it investigated all reports of harassment and misconduct and took appropriate action. But it said it was reviewing its processes to ensure that it was handling such complaints fairly.
The changes outlined on Thursday represent the first part of that effort. Microsoft said that senior leaders would become more involved in the resolution of investigations but that the investigations themselves would be handled by trained human resources investigators.
The company also said that it was creating a new office to support employees who report harassment or discrimination. The office, called the Employee Advocacy Center, will provide support throughout the investigation process and help employees connect with resources.
“These changes are designed to make our investigations fairer, more objective, and more consistent, and to ensure that we hold people accountable for their actions,” Microsoft said in a statement. “We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect.”
