Paradox staff allege "culture of silence" in new reports of toxic workplace

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a pocket-size committee. Read our editorial policy.

Paradox staff allege "culture of silence" in new reports of toxic workplace

"As much civilization of silence equally you tin can have."

New reports take been published containing further allegations of corruption at Swedish publisher Paradox Interactive. The reports, published initially by Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet (paywalled), are based primarily on interviews with Paradox staff who wished to remain anonymous.

1 declared incident involved the hiring of a senior managing director known for "unwelcome approaches and harassment" at a onetime company, according to a translation by Eurogamer. Svenska Dagbladet sources said the man'south reputation was ignored when he was hired

Eurogamer also spoke to several women, electric current and former employees of Paradox, who spoke of a toxic workplace culture where women were silenced, ignored, and screamed at.

"I have been to meetings where I'one thousand the just adult female in the room, and I say 'Hey, I really think we should go this management, based on my experience'," said one adult female speaking anonymously, "and someone looks at me, and they say, 'You know what, you're just here as a token rent. So I think you should be quiet about this.'"

Both Eurogamer and Svenska Dagbladet spoke to women who described a lack of faith in management to deal with problems. "If I bring something to my middle direction manager he's not going to address those things to senior direction considering then he might be disliked," i woman told Eurogamer. One woman also told Svenska Dagbladet of an instance where a male manager removed her from a coming together and made her remove criticism of the company from the internal Slack while he watched.

"That's equally much culture of silence as yous can take," said the employee.

These allegations come a month subsequently a leaked survey of Paradox'south wedlock employees alleged a civilization of mistreatment at Paradox Interactive. More one-half of women respondents to the survey said they had experienced mistreatment during their time at the visitor. A Paradox representative told Svenska Dagbladet that they took the survey seriously, simply that it was an "breezy" study which less than xx% of the company responded to.

In a response to Eurogamer, Paradox reiterated that they had commissioned their own audit of the visitor'south practices using an external HR firm. There are more than details of the new allegations in Eurogamer's story.

The week before the spousal relationship survey became public, CEO Ebba Ljungerud resigned, with Paradox citing "differing views on the company'southward strategy". Paradox have since cancelled several unannounced games.

Previous CEO Fredrik Wester returned to the part, simply a week later admitted to "inappropriate behaviour" at a visitor issue in 2018, when he was last CEO.