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CD Projekt Red, the studio behind Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, has announced menstrual leave for employees experiencing pain from their period or menopause. Is this an indication of a more progressive industry going forward?
CD Projekt Red has had its fair share of turbulence in recent years, and rightfully so.
In the run up to the release of its flagship title, Cyberpunk 2077, the studio entered a mandatory ‘crunch period’ where developers were forced to work six days a week under extreme stress.
Following the ensuing debacle with the game’s car-crash release in 2020, and a fever pitch of criticism surrounding company mismanagement, CD Projekt Red has strived to create a healthier, more ‘employee-friendly’ culture to underpin future projects.
A week after further assurance that the studio is done with crunch practices, it has introduced a policy allowing menstrual leave for employees suffering with period pain.
We’re proud to offer menstrual leave to employees! Team members can now focus on their comfort & health by taking time off when suffering from period pain. It’s all about inclusivity & fostering a supportive workplace #insideRED.
Kudos to GOG for implementing this benefit first!
— CD PROJEKT RED (@CDPROJEKTRED) March 30, 2023
CD Projekt Red’s new menstrual leave policy
Already garnering a lot of support online, the policy will permit employees to take as much time as needed away from work to recover – whether that be hours, or days – much like regular sick leave.
‘We’re proud to offer menstrual leave to employees,’ said CD Projekt Red’s PR chief Ola Sondej. ‘Team members can now focus on their comfort & health by taking time off when suffering from period pain… it’s all about inclusivity & fostering a supportive workplace.’
Having been officially implemented at the turn of the month, the policy stemmed from close observations of CD Projekt Red’s sister company, GOG. The PC game storefront became one of the first gaming companies to offer menstrual leave in 2022, and CD Projekt Red was quickly convinced of the benefits.
Menstrual leave will be fully paid with time-scales negotiable, ensuring employees do not feel pressured to work through bouts of pain or discomfort. Sondej believes this will be a huge boon for the morale of the studio’s development team, as the company continues to make strides towards becoming more inclusive.
‘I think the biggest impact does not stem from the fact that you can take a day off when you feel physically unwell. It stems from the fact that you work at a place that actually notices that this issue exists. It does make me feel more confident,’ she says.
The notion of this new workplace mechanic, though fairly new in its conception, could well be an effective way of targeting stigmas concerning periods and menopause.
In such a traditionally male-dominated industry, this should hopefully provide a springboard for a larger reckoning to upend gaming’s murky past.
