Former EA Ireland director fights firing over penis reference

Former Electronic Arts Ireland director Philippe Grenet is fighting dismissal after losing his job for making penis references in a one-on-one video conference call last month.

According to the Irish Independent (thanks, GamesIndustry.biz), French-born Grenet – who had then been director of global delivery service at EA Ireland – acknowledges that while he used the word "dick", it was in the context of "not going to pull my dick out and put it on the table", a "clumsy expression" to convey that "he did not want to challenge" his colleagues. However, his account differs from the Texas-based recipient, who subsequently filed a complaint. Grenet was then fired for gross misconduct that had breached EA’s harassment and equality policy.

According to the Independent, Grenet now fears the "impact the allegations and his purported dismissal will have on his reputation and his future". He is now fighting the decision in the Irish High Court and the court has granted his injunction on a one side only represented basis to stop EA’s Galway City-based office from dismissing him or from replacing him until the case returns to court later this week.

French-born Grenet insists that as English is not his first language, EA should’ve taken that into account during its investigation. His counsel maintains EA conducted itself in a "shambolic and utterly prejudicial manner" and Grenet’s dismissal was malicious as the plaintiff was aggrieved he had secured a position she had unsuccessfully applied for.

In its defence, EA claims Grenet – who oversaw 500 staff across EA’s Galway and Texas offices – admitted he used the word "dick" in conversation during its investigation, and rejected claims there were flaws in its disciplinary process. The case continues.