Lionhead Employee Sues Microsoft For Homophobia
Well, this is a disappointing story to hear about.
Microsoft is being sued by an employee of Lionhead Studios for homophobia, and inaction on the part of HR in reacting to it.
Mr Durrant, of Godalming, Surrey, who earns £50,000 a year designing video games for the Xbox 360 console, is suing Microsoft at a London employment tribunal for discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.He said mocking emails were sent around his workplace with headings such as 'I'm Jim and I'm Gay' and 'Me and My Favourite Men'.
He said the firm did not have policies to deal with his complaints.
Mr Durrant, who has worked for 11 years at Lionhead Studios in Guildford, bought by Microsoft two years ago, said the emails began in January last year. He has been off work for depression for seven months.
The irony of this is overwhelming, since Microsoft has earned good ratings for it's treatment of gay employees in America. It's especially shocking considering that Fable 2, which Jamie Durrant worked on, is one of the most gay-friendly games released in the last few years.
Mr Durrant said he complained to human resources chiefs and agreed not to raise a formal grievance to avoid creating an 'uneasy atmosphere'.He instead agreed to an email from HR reminding staff of 'how to behave responsibly in a diverse office' but, after months went by, he was told the firm would have to draw up new policies before any such email could be sent.
He then claims he was asked to sign a document agreeing not to raise a formal grievance and confirming he was happy his complaint was being dealt with, but he refused.
By then, another abusive message was put up in the staff kitchen, he said.
Mr Durrant said HR chiefs 'blatantly disregarded' his complaint. He was offered counselling but said: 'They're making out that I'm the one with the problem.'
Microsoft has apparently refused comment.
Xbox designer accuses Microsoft of homophobia [Telegraph]
Sgt. Sausagepants
Posted to Video Games on 24 March 2009
· Comments (9)
Other stuff like this: homophobia, lionhead, microsoft
Whether he gets any money out of them is irrelevent now.
Either way he wins, because everyone in his office will now have been informed/warned or will be soon.
A lawsuit is probably a little more effective than a little email that most people would probably delete :p
If these facts are even half true, he has good odds of winning this lawsuit, as discrimination in employment based on various factors, including sexuality, is now against the law in the UK. Has been for a few years.
It's a shame that company which is such a well respected employer in the states, which I understand has no similar national law, has treated someone so poorly over here.
That's strange to hear that someone is suing Microsoft over something like this, because I know so many gay people who work at Microsoft and they've never complained about anything like that before. Perhaps they need to keep a closer eye on their other divisions elsewhere?
I remember Jamie from his posts on the old Lionhead forums during the development of the first Black and White. Seemed like a decent, level-headed guy who remained professional at all times. Admittedly, it can be hard to tell from an online persona, but it's hard for me to believe he's gone off his rocker or is throwing unsubstantiated claims. I feel bad for the guy.
Still level headed, but now with added antidepressants and sleeping tablets !
Ugh.
I'd be like that too if there was overcast all day around here.
I haven't played through Fable II yet, if it turns out it was developed by a load of homophobes then i'm not sure I want to. Damn.
Depression and staying home from work for 7 months from someone forwarding stupid joke e-mails? Please. While it's not "work appropriate" it sounds like this guy needs to grow a thicker skin.
Having been harassed at a work place (along with other co-workers), you can easily and quickly find your physical and mental health slipping. Its not about being a big kid and taking a joke - its about being under anxiety the entire time you're employed with the add bonus (at least in my case) of fear for you property and physical well being (people had expensive things like vehicles defaced and were injured, in same cases severely, by not-terribly fun 'pranks'). I can see taking 7 months of recuperation time if you'd spent most of your working life waiting for the next outburst and knowing it was gonna be bad. I just hope this guy gets his settlement and a more positive work place.