California Regulator Claims Riot Games Silenced Employees Over Harassment and Discrimination Complaints

Right after taking action against Activision Blizzard.

Gaming
1.0K 0 Comments

Straight after taking action against Activision Blizzard for alleged sexual harassment and gender discrimination, California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing has now gone after another company within the gaming industry, this time claiming that Riot Games had silenced its employees from issuing complaints over the same harassment and discrimination within the workplace.

In 2019, following a year of litigation, Riot Games had settled a lawsuit with employees over claims that it had fostered a gender-discriminating and toxic workplace culture. Following an investigation by the DFEH, the department found that the language used within that settlement had to the chilling effect of deterring Riot employees from speaking up against the same behavior.

“Agreements that attempt to bar individuals from filing a complaint or assisting in a DFEH case run afoul of the anti-retaliation and anti-interference provisions of the Fair Employment and Housing Act,” said the department’s director Kevin Kish in a press release. “Employers cannot impose a penalty on people who engage in protected activity under statutes enforced by DFEH. The very existence of such agreements has a chilling effect on the willingness of individuals to come forward with information that may be of importance to the DFEH as it seeks to advance the public interest in the elimination of unlawful employment discrimination and harassment.”

After legal filings, the Californian court ruled in favor of the DFEH and issued an order requiring Riot to send out a corrective notice, although the department notes that the gaming company has failed to do so after two months. In a response to The Verge, a Riot spokesperson said that “notices are being sent to former employees to confirm that Riot’s severance agreements have never in any way prohibited speaking to government agencies” before refuting the DFEH’s claims: “Nothing in this agreement prohibits you from reporting possible violations of federal or state law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity.”

Elsewhere in the gaming industry, Nintendo Switch has managed to sweep the entire Top 30 video games chart in Japan for the first time in 30 years.

Read Full Article

What to Read Next

Jahan Loh Celebrates G-SHOCK's Steel "CasiOak" With Futuristic Animated Short
Watches

Jahan Loh Celebrates G-SHOCK's Steel "CasiOak" With Futuristic Animated Short

Featuring a GM-2100-wearing astronaut.

CM Punk Continues to Leave Cryptic Messages Regarding His Return to Wrestling
Sports

CM Punk Continues to Leave Cryptic Messages Regarding His Return to Wrestling

“05, 11, 21.”

Pharrell's adidas Humanrace Sichona Is Officially Releasing
Footwear

Pharrell's adidas Humanrace Sichona Is Officially Releasing

Debuting in “Royal Blue/Easy Coral/Clear Aqua.”

4DIMENSION® and GOOPiMADE Investigate "Topology" With a Capsule Collection
Fashion

4DIMENSION® and GOOPiMADE Investigate "Topology" With a Capsule Collection

A fitting union between the Taiwanese labels.

Brooks Brothers and Junya Watanabe MAN Reveal Latest Elevated Militaristic Blazers
Fashion

Brooks Brothers and Junya Watanabe MAN Reveal Latest Elevated Militaristic Blazers

The new collaborative items are releasing this month.


Damon Wayans Wants a 'VERZUZ' Comedy Battle With Dave Chappelle
Entertainment

Damon Wayans Wants a 'VERZUZ' Comedy Battle With Dave Chappelle

“I’m calling him out,” the retired standup comedian said in a recent interview.

New Balance Delivers Trio of Heritage-Inspired 574 Colorways
Footwear

New Balance Delivers Trio of Heritage-Inspired 574 Colorways

Introducing the “History Class.”

NISMO Gives the Electrified Nissan Note Aura a Sporty Tweak
Automotive

NISMO Gives the Electrified Nissan Note Aura a Sporty Tweak

Focusing on an aerodynamic body kit that improves downforce.

Take a First Look at Arcade1Up's 'The Simpson' Arcade Machine
Gaming

Take a First Look at Arcade1Up's 'The Simpson' Arcade Machine

Now available for pre-order.

Bayern Munich’s 2021/22 Third Jersey Is Inspired by Its Mountainous Surroundings
Fashion

Bayern Munich’s 2021/22 Third Jersey Is Inspired by Its Mountainous Surroundings

Set to debuted in the German Supercup against Borussia Dortmund later today.

More ▾
 
We got you covered. Don’t miss out on the latest news by signing up for our newsletters.