Riot Settles Discrimination Suit, Will Pay Every Female Employee Since 2014
Robert Workman
Following months of questionable actions, Riot Games has finally chosen to address the gender discrimination controversy with a settlement.
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the company behind the hit MOBA League of Legends has agreed to pay out $10 million to close the lawsuit. That settlement will go to 1,000 women who have worked for the company since 2014.
The controversy began last summer with an investigation initially filed by Kotaku, looking into sexism surrounding the company. Following that, two women who worked for Riot Games filed a lawsuit, noting they both experienced sexual harassment and gender discrimination. They made a note of a “men-first” and “bro culture,” along with the existence of a “hot girl list.”
The individual amounts to those affected by the suit are not public. However, the Los Angeles Times article indicates that “the final dollar amount that each employee who self-identifies as female receives will vary depending on how long they worked for Riot, with full employees receiving more than contractors.”
“We’re pleased to have a proposed settlement to fully resolve the class action lawsuit,” a Riot spokesperson said in a statement. “The settlement is another important step forward, and demonstrates our commitment to living up to our values and to making Riot an inclusive environment for the industry’s best talent.”
The settlement should conclude shortly.
As part of the settlement filing, the Riot Games also made a note of improvements it’s making with its culture with an updated blog post. It now has programs that look into reporting discrimination and sexual harassment, along with reviews to pay promotion and hiring practice systems.
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