The development studio of League of Legends, Riot Games announced that it would delete the clause for internal disputes concerning disputes about sexual harassment at work – but only for new employees and if they explicitly request this.
Riot Games, the developer studio behind the successful MOBA League of Legends, announced it was making adjustments to its employment contracts, which were recently criticized by complaints from two employees.
Riot Games aiming for changes
According to the employment contracts, the employees agree to settle disputes internally. It is not allowed to go to court against the employer. Now the company said that this clause will be taken out of the contracts – but only for new employees and only if they explicitly ask for it. Later, options will be explored as to whether existing workers will be offered the opportunity to have this clause deleted from the employment contracts. Probably Riot Games wants to try first to avert the current lawsuit, relying on the existing employment contracts.
Shouldn’t have taken a scandal for this to happen. Create an environment where female employees aren’t afraid to speak out. I’ve interviewed for your company 3 times. Each time I was belittled and intimated by male managers. The recruiters were always sweet. Fix it.
— ??????? ?????✨ (@_MrsRizz) August 11, 2018
Interestingly, there is only talk of this clause in disputes about sexual harassment in the workplace. The company also said it would launch a new employee training program designed to teach them how not to bother colleagues. A special team has been put together to take care of inclusion and diversity in the company.
Riot took its time
Riot Games has been in the limelight since last summer due to allegations of sexism and alleged unjust treatment of female employees. The company was even sued but recently got the spotlight because the employment contracts according to which action should not have been possible.
Already for months, we heard about the unjust treatment of the employees and sexism in the workplace within the studio of Riot Games. This controversy went so far that some of the female employees recently sued the company.
Riot Games wants to settle the lawsuit
Yet previously it was said by Riot Games that a lawsuit should not be possible. The company has a clause in the employment contracts according to which the employees undertake to settle disputes internally. Riot Games claimed that the clause forbids employees from going to court.
@Iam_Trident @tyler1lol @pokimanelol @MarcMerrill @RepCheri@RiotGames, #ForcedArbitration is a huge reason for the impending #WalkOut tomorrow. Fix It, do not #Hide from it. https://t.co/lAqPEOXR74
— Matthew Proffitt (@MKUltra_Ronin) May 5, 2019
The lawyer of the two plaintiffs is of the opinion that Riot Games aimed to silence the employees and deny them the right to go to court. By means of such clauses in the employment contracts, concessions to better working conditions are nothing but lip-service. The lawyer a few days ago announced that he wanted to go against this clause in the contracts. Yet it seems like it worked at the end. We really hope that things get settled fast. Since minor controversies like these can become big issues for the game developers. Recently Fortnite was also accused of unjust treatment of the employees. This just show how much you have to push the developing team to be amongst the best in the world.
