Former Rockstar North staff allege secret watch list after petition on office return
A dismissed Rockstar North employee testified that a covert list was used to target workers who signed a remote-work petition, while the company says the firings were for breaching confidentiality.
A group of former Rockstar North employees, represented by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, have filed an employment tribunal alleging unfair dismissals linked to a petition on returning to the office. Dayne Oram, one of the claimants, testified that a covert "watch list" was compiled after the petition was submitted in spring 2023, and that this list was used to target activists for further conduct deemed undesirable.
While roughly 150 staff signed the petition, only 34 were dismissed in October of the previous year, with 23 now pursuing the case. Rockstar North maintains the terminations were for gross misconduct, pointing to the sharing of confidential information on a Discord server and breaches of moderation rules. The tribunal examined examples of vulgar language and alleged unprofessional comments posted by employees, as well as the company's internal moderation policies. Judge Lucy Wiseman continues to hear the proceedings in Glasgow, with the outcome poised to impact labor relations within the gaming industry.
Why it matters
The case could set a precedent for how tech firms handle employee activism and internal communications.
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