2019-07-01_PC_Gamer

Walkout at riot

Employees at the League of Legends creator protest forced arbitration

binding. Since the original Kotaku

report, Riot has taken measures to

combat sexism, including hiring chief

diversity officer Angela Roseboro.

However the plaintiffs allege that the

everyday atmosphere at Riot hasn’t

improved – they described being

required to take on additional roles

without remuneration and enduring

sexual objectification, which includes

email chains rating female Riot

employees. Additionally the lawsuits

detail discriminating hiring

procedures and a gender pay gap.

To some of the protesting

employees, refusing to settle these

issues in court goes against Riot’s

commitment to prevent

F

ollowing a report by
Kotaku on the endemic
sexism at Riot Games
last August, the
company announced
actions to improve its culture.
Several months later a number of
Riot employees filed lawsuits
against their employer for gender
discrimination. Riot responded by
pointing out its mandatory
arbitration clause, effectively
blocking court proceedings.

Over 150 employees left their
workplace both to protest forced
arbitration, a practice in which a
private arbitrator settles disputes

instead of a court judge, and the

ongoing problems at Riot. Arbitration

differs from court procedures in that

they’re confidential and parties

choose arbitrators themselves, which

means they’re not necessarily

impartial. Most importantly,

arbitration rulings aren’t legally

plaintiffs allege

thattheeveryday

atmosphereatriot

hasn’t improved

MonIToR

NewS | OpiNiON | DevelOpmeNt