Riot Games Responds to Sexual Harassment Allegations

 Posted on August 10, 2018 in Main

It is no secret that the majority of people employed in technology jobs are men. The video game development company Riot Games is no different. The company is responsible for the wildly popular game League of Legends and also for organizing eSports tournaments. Recently, the tech company has been accused of significant sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of sex.

Video Game Developer in Hot Water Over Alleged Gender Bias

Kotaku, a video game website and blog that is part of the Gawker Media network, spoke with 28 former Riot Games employees who had a few very disconcerting things to say about the development company. Several female employees claimed that they had experienced discrimination at the company because they were women. They say that Riot Games regularly overlooked ideas coming from female employees while applauding the same ideas from men. The former employees also spoke of times that a senior female employee would be passed up for a promotion in favor of a male new hire. The women interviewed by Kotaku described the work environment at Riot games as a “bro culture.”

Some Say Allegations of Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Are Unsubstantiated

Kotaku also interviewed some former Riot Games employees who said that the accusations made by some employees are not true. They also claim that many issues were already being addressed. Oksana Kubushyna, Head of Riot Platform Group, stated that efforts to eliminate bias during the hiring process have already been implemented and that the company hopes to draw in more women. Joe Hixson, Riot Games' corporate communications lead, responded to the allegations in the Kotaku article by saying, "This article shines a light on areas where we haven't lived up to our own values, which will not stand at Riot. We've taken action against many of the specific instances in the article, and we're committed to digging in, addressing every issue, and fixing the underlying causes.”

Have You Been Discriminated Against Because of Your Gender?

Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination prohibited by Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Employers who make hiring decisions based on gender or allow sexual harassment to continue in their organization can face serious consequences including being forced to compensate the victim of the harassment for lost wages and emotional distress.

If you have been the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, the experienced Wheaton, IL employment discrimination lawyers at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC can help. Call us today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case.

Sources:

http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/24314161/riot-games-responds-report-alleging-sexual-harassment

https://kotaku.com/inside-the-culture-of-sexism-at-riot-games-1828165483