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A former Valve employee is suing the company for $3.1 million, claiming that they were fired due to transgender discrimination, retaliation for whistle blowing, a misclassification of employment, and more.
The details of the lawsuit, originally posted by Polygon, note that the filing came on April 12, 2016. The employee, known only by their initials in the lawsuit, says that she was fired after going to the Human Resources department to complain about how the company was "utilizing people who were interested in their products to provided translation services for free."
The major part of the lawsuit says that her supervisor at Valve created a hostile work experience for her. Following a sex reassignment surgery, the plaintiff claims that her supervisor referred to her as "it."
The plaintiff continued to work at Valve until earlier this year, which is when she filed the complaint mentioned above about the unpaid translation services.
Days after the complaint was made to Human Resources, the plaintiff was fired. At around the same time, Valve said that her job would be moved back to Washington. The plaintiff agreed to move but Valve decided instead to not keep her on as an employee.
The lawsuit seeks $1 million general damages, $1 million in special damages, $150,000 for unpaid wages and penalties, and $1 million for loss of earnings. The plaintiff is also seeking punitive damages, the amount of which would be decided by the court.
Valve's legal council has already responded to these claims in a filing made on May 20. You can see both the filing and the response from Valve over at Scribd.
As for the matter of Torsten Zabka, it seems as though this is not the first time being in the middle of a controversy. Back in February, there was a strike by the Spanish speaking Steam translation team due to the abhorrent treatment by Zabka.
The details of the lawsuit, originally posted by Polygon, note that the filing came on April 12, 2016. The employee, known only by their initials in the lawsuit, says that she was fired after going to the Human Resources department to complain about how the company was "utilizing people who were interested in their products to provided translation services for free."
The major part of the lawsuit says that her supervisor at Valve created a hostile work experience for her. Following a sex reassignment surgery, the plaintiff claims that her supervisor referred to her as "it."
According to the April 12 filing, the plaintiff worked at Valve's headquarters in Washington state prior to 2012. Sometime in 2012, the litigant planned to undergo gender transition and told the company she needed to move to Los Angeles, where her doctors were located and where she could recover while still working.
Valve accommodated her request, allowing her to work from home in LA to recover from the surgery, but also because of "related disabilities including depression." The company required the translator to be reclassified as an independent contractor as a condition of the move, according to the suit.
Valve accommodated her request, allowing her to work from home in LA to recover from the surgery, but also because of "related disabilities including depression." The company required the translator to be reclassified as an independent contractor as a condition of the move, according to the suit.
The plaintiff continued to work at Valve until earlier this year, which is when she filed the complaint mentioned above about the unpaid translation services.
“She complained that these unpaid translators, often young minors, were being exploited and lured to work for [Valve] based on false promises made by her supervisor, Torsten Zabka. Indeed, they would work hours upon hours based on promises that their work could lead to a paid position, but in the end Torsten Zabka invariably found excuses to renege on his promises. [Employee] felt bad for the exploited minors and complained to Human Resources about this issue, and other complaints involving Torsten Zabka creating a hostile work environment and mistreating employees.”
Days after the complaint was made to Human Resources, the plaintiff was fired. At around the same time, Valve said that her job would be moved back to Washington. The plaintiff agreed to move but Valve decided instead to not keep her on as an employee.
The lawsuit seeks $1 million general damages, $1 million in special damages, $150,000 for unpaid wages and penalties, and $1 million for loss of earnings. The plaintiff is also seeking punitive damages, the amount of which would be decided by the court.
Valve's legal council has already responded to these claims in a filing made on May 20. You can see both the filing and the response from Valve over at Scribd.
As for the matter of Torsten Zabka, it seems as though this is not the first time being in the middle of a controversy. Back in February, there was a strike by the Spanish speaking Steam translation team due to the abhorrent treatment by Zabka.