Pokémon GO developer Niantic is facing a lawsuit over sexual bias claims from two of its former employees. Read on to learn more about the details of the case, its context, and its proceedings moving forward.
Niantic To Contest Sexual Bias Claims in Los Angeles
Game developer Niantic, famed for 2016’s Pokémon GO and the recently released Monster Hunter NOW, will be contesting claims of sexual bias in Los Angeles on November 21, 2023. The attempted class-action case was filed against the company by two of its former employees, who chose to remain anonymous.
Plaintiff Alleges “Blatant Favoritism” Across Company Structure
The anonymous pair alleged that Niantic "systemically devalued the work of female employees and especially women of color, including plaintiffs" in their case. Furthermore, they claimed that the company was a "boy’s club" that had a "blatant favoritism to men".
They expounded on this claim by alleging that such biases "permate the company" from its CEO, John Hanke, downwards. The plaintiffs went as far as claiming that Niantic’s executive board was full of "FOJs" - a term meaning Friends of John, referring to their CEO - who held a good portion of the company’s power.
In the plaintiff's amended complaint, they accused Niantic of the following: Violating the California Equal Pay Act, retaliation, discrimination, creating a hostile work environment, failing to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and violating the unfair competition law.
The dispute originally began in July, stemming from the company’s layoffs in the summer of 2023, which included the case’s first plaintiff in its job culling. As the case’s sole plaintiff at the time, the former employee revealed that they were paid less than a male colleague despite being in a more senior role, which equated to $10,000 under her job’s pay range. They alleged that this was because they raised concerns of sexual bias in the company, as told to her by a superior.
A second anonymous employee joined the case in September as its second plaintiff, elevating it into an attempted class-action lawsuit that includes the above-mentioned allegations.
Niantic Looking to Dismiss Case to Arbitration Instead
Niantic is looking to dismiss the case and move it to arbitration instead, citing that this was agreed upon by the two former employees. The plaintiffs argue that said arbitration agreement excludes claims involving sexual bias and that the matter should be heard in court.
Both parties will be attending a hearing on November 21, 2023, in Los Angeles to determine whether or not the case will continue. Apart from those mentioned above, no official statement from Niantic regarding the case's proceedings has been provided at this time.
Source:
Pokémon Go Developer Niantic Laying Off Hundreds of Staff
Class Action Complaint for Niantic
Defendant Niantic's Reply in Support of its Motion to Compel Arbitration and to Strike Class and Representative Allegations
