Riot Games employees protest over forced arbitration and sex discrimination

Riot Games, best known for their MOBA game ‘League of Legends’ is now facing a protest for forced arbitration and sexist culture. Over 150 employees walk out and protest over the matter in a parking lot on Riot’s campus with some holding signs and some giving out impassioned speeches. This is not the first times as the employees have faced similar cases since last year.

Riot’s social listening strategist, Jocelyn Monahan stood in front of a sign reading “Riot Unplugged” and speak to all the discontented colleagues that, “asking to feel safe does not make you entitled.” At the same time, Monahan told Kotaku that they just wanted to end the forced arbitration for all past, current, and future Riot employees and that includes contractors and those in the process of taking legal action.

Other than that, Monahan deliberately pointed a major point out to the assembled colleagues and those who stayed behind working, she said:

“We are what makes Riot great. I want us to feel solidarity and connection with each other. I want us to feel connected. I want us to feel like our voices are heard and heard in a way that matters.”

Following that, many employees then took turns speaking through the megaphone to share their hopes and fears for the company. Some even admitted they were worried of participating the protest just to be labeled as an “anti-Riot”. While the others are giving their supports through Tweeter with the #riotwalkout hashtag.

Here are some images of the scene from the protest by Upcomer: 

▼ Clearly a message on gender discrimination

▼Signs were held to show support

▼” Force is not a word women like” @Riotswimbananas

One of the Riot employee even came forth and announced that she will be quitting the company in two weeks time because she doesn’t want to see people getting protected by the higher ups in Riot. That’s not all because she was worried to be labelled as a “Red Flag” and didn’t even come into contact with her husband who works there, fearing that he would too be labelled as one.

The participation to fight the forced arbitration was allowed by the company’s management and it started at 2PM and ended around 4PM . Then, a Riot representative sent an email to Kotaku this morning, stating: “We respect Rioters who choose to walkout today and will not tolerate retaliation of any kind as a result of participating (or not).”

Near the end of the demonstration, Monahan set a deadline for Riot to take action on forced arbitration by May 16, there’ll be further action by the walkouts if none is taken. Another organizer, Riot writer Indu Reddy told Kotaku that “we do have plans, and we do have days that we’re planning, and we do have commitments that we have responses for.”

What are your thoughts on all these? Let us know down the comments!

Source: Kotaku via Wanuxi