Riot Games agrees to pay $100 million in 2018 sex discrimination lawsuit settlement

Riot Games has announced that it has reached a $100 million global settlement with California labor departments and female employees for a 2018 gender-based discrimination lawsuit.

According to Riot’s press release, $80 million will be paid to all “current and former full-time employees and temporary agency contractors in California who identify as women and work work at any time from November 2014 to present.” Riot is also paying an additional $20 million to cover attorneys’ fees and other expenses.

The 2018 lawsuit,”McCracken vs Riot Games“, Allegedly there were multiple cases of sexism and sexual harassment against certain women since 2014. This lawsuit was officially filed a few months after a report on the culture of sexism. at Riot Games announced by Kotaku. Riot initially agreed to pay $10 million in a settlement at the end of 2019, before the California Department of Housing and Fair Employment (DFEH) intervened and declared Affected employees are potentially deserving of more than $400 million in a settlement.

Both the California DFEH and the California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) opposed the initial $10 million settlement and intervened to secure a fair payment. In its own press release, DFEH listed Other agreements Riot has made as part of the agreement:

• Create a cash reserve of $6 million each year for the three-year term of the consent ordinance ($18 million total) to make wage adjustments and fund diversity programs , equity and inclusion.
• Offers 40 full-time positions in engineering, quality assurance or art design roles to qualified class members who have worked as temporary contractors in a process compete.
• Hire and pay an independent third-party expert approved by DFEH to perform a gender equality analysis of employee pay, work assignments, and promotions each year for three years and correct disparities cannot be explained by honest, justifiable reasons.
• Hire and pay an independent third-party supervisor approved by DFEH to check compliance with workplace safeguards, including reviewing results and investigating complaints , every year for three years.

Genie Harrison, the plaintiff’s attorney, said: “This is a great day for the women of Riot Games – and for the women at all tech and video game companies – who deserve it. a workplace free from harassment and discrimination”. “We appreciate Riot’s introspection and efforts since 2018 to become a more diverse and inclusive company, its willingness to take responsibility for its past, and its commitment to continuing to work together. equality and equality in the future.”

A Riot spokesperson said the company hopes the deal “appropriately acknowledges those who have had negative experiences at Riot and demonstrates [its] looking forward to taking the lead in bringing more accountability and equality to the gaming industry. ”