California presses Riot Games to let employees speak

• It also has had Riot in its sights since finding that a settlement between Riot and women who worked there was inadequate. It has a pending action against the company.

Between the lines: In a filing to Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, the DFEH said Riot was stalling on informing workers they could speak to the agency.

• The department contends that language in Riot’s settlement and separation agreements “suggested” those who signed weren’t free to talk.
• Such restrictions violate anti-retaliation and anti-interference provisions of the law, DFEH director Kevin Kish said. That led to an agreement between Riot and the DFEH to inform workers they could do so.

What they're saying: "Riot has never and will never retaliate against anyone for talking to any government agency," a company rep told Axios.

• The company says it is sending notices to employees "to confirm that Riot’s severance agreements have never in any way prohibited speaking to government agencies."