Microsoft spokesman Frank Shaw told the Journal that the 2008 warning from company executives came shortly before Bill Gates retired as a full-time employee.
In 2008 Microsoft executives warned Bill Gates to stop sending flirtatious emails to a female employee, but when he told them he would shut down, the company disclosed on October 18.
wall street journal The first to report were that Brad Smith, then general counsel to Microsoft and now its president and vice president, and another executive met with Mr. Gates after the company discovered inappropriate emails to a mid-level employee.
The paper reported that Mr Gates did not deny the exchanges, and that Microsoft board members, who had been briefed about him, declined to take further action because there was no physical interaction between Mr Gates and the employee. Was.
Microsoft declined to comment Monday except to confirm Journal of Reporting. Mr. Smith did not return a request for comment made through the company.
Mr Gates’ personal office said in a written statement that “these claims are false, rumors recycled from sources with no direct knowledge, and in some cases significant conflicts of interest”. It declined further comment.
Similar alleged behavior was reported in 2008, more than a decade ago, which led the tech giant to commission a law firm in 2019 to investigate a letter from an engineer that he said had worked for several years. Had sex with Mr Gates.
The investigation preceded Mr. Gates’ departure from Microsoft’s board last year, but it was not until Mr. Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates announced in May that they had decided to end their marriage of 27 years. did not appear in public. The divorce was finalized in August. The former couple still jointly run the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Mr. Gates was the CEO of Microsoft until 2000 and has since gradually reduced his involvement in the company, which he started with Paul Allen in 1975. He transitioned from a day-to-day role at Microsoft in 2008 and served as chairman of the board. Till 2014.
Microsoft spokesman Frank Shaw told magazine That 2008 warning from company executives came shortly before Mr. Gates retired as a full-time employee. Mr Shaw told the newspaper that Mr Gates had suggested meeting the employee outside work in emails that were flirtatious and inappropriate but “not openly sexual”. The latest disclosure about Mr. Gates adds to concerns raised by a Microsoft investor from fellow shareholders to support a proposal that would force the company to investigate its workplace harassment policies and release a report about them.
Arjun Capital’s proposal on Microsoft’s agenda said, “Reports of Bill Gates’ inappropriate relationships and sexual advances towards Microsoft employees have only heightened concerns by attributing only the culture and role of the board to that set by the top leadership. ” Annual shareholder meeting next month.
Microsoft urged investors to decline the offer in a note filed with regulators last week, arguing that it is unnecessary because the company has already adopted a plan to publicly report that sexual harassment and gender discrimination. How is it implementing its policies on discrimination?
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