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Wardogs CEO Says Workers Who Speak Out Against Crunch Won't 'Be Happy Here'
Aftermath • • technology
Key Points:
- Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer openly admits the studio practices crunch and screens potential hires' social media to avoid hiring those who vocally oppose crunch culture, aiming to build a workforce aligned with this work ethic.
- Brammer emphasizes that crunch is expected at Bulkhead, and the studio balances it by offering employees equity stakes, sharing profits from successful games like Wardogs, which sold two million copies since its September 2023 launch.
- Despite experimenting with flexible work arrangements like a four-day workweek in the past, Bulkhead currently does not implement it but expresses interest in innovating work practices to improve staff conditions.
- The studio's approach to paternity leave evolved from 10 weeks to a phased return system, reflecting an attempt to support employees' family lives while managing workplace demands.
- Critics argue that Bulkhead’s policy of excluding anti-crunch candidates may perpetuate harmful industry norms by equating passion for work with acceptance of exploitative overtime, potentially fostering unhealthy work environments.
