Riot Games Settles Employee Lawsuit
Video game enthusiasts in California and throughout the country may be familiar with “League of Legends,” which was produced by Riot Games. The game developer has been in the spotlight lately because of a class-action lawsuit that claimed the company engaged in gender discrimination. The suit was filed in November 2018 by both a current and former employee. It specifically claimed that they were subject to unequal pay and a lack of advancement based on their gender.
The company did eventually suspend its chief operating officer who was alleged to have fostered a “bro culture” within the organization. According to the lawsuit, employees of both genders were subject to systemic sexism and misogyny in the workplace. Riot Games announced that it had settled the case on Aug. 23. Representatives said that the settlement was reached to close the matter in a timely manner.
In a blog post, the organization claimed that it had a strong legal position but chose to focus on moving past the matter and beginning the healing process. Despite making changes to its company culture, more than 100 employees took part in a May walkout to protest a forced arbitration policy. Although the lawsuit has been settled, Riot Games is still under investigation by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).
Individuals who experience sexual harassment on the job may have options to hold their employers accountable. For instance, it’s possible to file a lawsuit to compel an employer to comply with relevant state and federal laws. Workers may also be entitled to compensation if they were wrongly terminated or not compensated properly while employed by a company. An attorney could help a worker pursue a favorable outcome in a case.