Following GOG’s example, CD Projekt is reportedly considering introducing paid menstrual leave for its employees.
Given the impact this period of pain has had on some employees, GOG said in its announcement that the “experimental” furlough “breaks taboos” and is “another step in making GOG a more inclusive workplace,” but it Does not stop its “continuous effort to learn, reflect and improve how we can do better for all team members”.
Given that the plan was announced in early April, not everyone believed the sincerity of the announcement, but Axios confirmed that the plan was launched based on personal experience within GOG’s own team.
“Menstrual leave fosters inclusivity by accepting biological differences in the workplace. By offering additional leave for those experiencing menstrual pain, we acknowledge that these symptoms are real,” the company said on LinkedIn.
“Breaking taboos can only be done by speaking up and making awkward topics a normal conversation. Implementing menstrual leave is another step towards making GOG a more inclusive workplace, and we won’t stop constantly striving to learn, reflect and improve How we can do better for all team members.”
The leave is for “every time period pain occurs” and will be paid in full, with the company estimating that employees with period pain will take an additional day off each quarter.
PC Gamer reached out to GOG’s parent company, CD Projekt – which employs more than 1,000 people – to ask if other companies in the company’s network would similarly try out the program. According to Radek Grabowski, Director of PR for CD Projekt, “GOG is leading this initiative and we are doing further research for CD Projekt as a whole”.
It’s one of many new initiatives for the gaming industry to improve support, benefits and retention for its employees, such as Bandai Namco Mobile’s full-paid four-day workweek trial, and Guerrilla’s choice to delay the release of Horizonn Part of the reason for Forbidden West is to avoid having to work overtime for its employees.
