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That's not the case in my opinion. But I think a lot of Rioters have kind of been like, "What's the point?" with taking PTO during COVID because it's not like we can go anywhere or do anything.
If anything we have a "please use your PTO" culture. I can't tell you the amount of times my manager, team members, and team lead have said, "Please take off time. Get off Slack. Disconnect."
If anything we have a "please use your PTO" culture. I can't tell you the amount of times my manager, team members, and team lead have said, "Please take off time. Get off Slack. Disconnect."
My team was cut down to 5 people in March when we started WFH across the org, I hadn't taken a day off since October of last year. Our boss went to each one of us in the past 2 weeks and demanded we take time off.
While it's a nice gesture, it's the sign that even management knows they have worked their people too much. It sucks when you are on a small team that handles so many applications/systems, you feel guilty when taking days off.
Sure, I'm only gone for 2 days, but my team was even more shorthanded than normal for those 2 days and everyone had more work because of it.
I get that completely. And I think the empathy and compassion for our teammates can definitely impact the amount of time we take off. I know I want to make sure my coworkers don't have to pick up my slack if I'm taking off.
much needed guys! reset, recharge and come back stronger.
thanks fam :)
I wonder how much this has to do with the meeting from the other day not going well. Either way, it’s nice that they’re getting a break, especially after how big the SB event has been.
This has actually been planned for quite some time! Much much earlier than our meeting :) Though I imagine some folks need to disconnect and recharge even more now.
Edit: Typos
Hey, right on FFXIV patch day. Works out well for me!
Good work Rito, you deserve some time off. Thanks for keeping the game running even through a global pandemic.
Thanks fam :)
Better than expected but if something major happens, a skeleton crew can't hold over. They could've easily done a half and half situation where it's half the first week, half the next week, and it would still achieve the same function without being worrying.
The problem with this is that we're an extremely interconnected company. Most of us can't do our jobs without connecting with people all around the company. It's not just limited to our game, either. I work with people from each of our games, from central, from our regional offices... I can't tell you how many times I've taken time off and people are still pinging me with urgent needs. Now imagine that across 3000 some-odd employees.
We've tried to do staggered breaks in the past (for example, at the team level), and it simply doesn't work. By forcing a company-wide break, it's ensuring that people aren't going to be receiving emails, slack messages, etc during their time off.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate that <3
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From personal experience, no - everyone pushes each other to take PTO. During my first couple of years my manager actually forced me to take time off because I wasn't taking nearly enough off. However, there are a lot of people who would have taken PTO during summer usually that have not done so due to COVID (as there's nowhere to go). This helps force people to take that rest.
Additionally, WFH has really blurred the lines between work and free time because many people are working at the same desk as they recreate in, so even when you're taking time off you're probably still keeping an eye on slack or something.
Also, really, we've done so much work since the start of the year, so it'll be good to have a proper rest. I find it really hard to reset so if I'm just having one or two days off I don't really ever stop thinking about work - having two weeks off (I booked a week off next to the Riot week off) will really help me actually relax!
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I'm not an engineering manager, but I am a tech lead of two teams with roughly ~15 people across them. I frequently advocate for folks to take time off and encourage folks to find healthy ways to disconnect.
I also know folks who's personal value (their own self-evaluation) is tied to their outputs in work and currently live alone in this covid-19 work from home world we're in. For some, taking time off can actually be a negative effect.
As an aside though, I'd say we definitely don't have a "never use your PTO" work culture. As an example of this, our paternity leave is pretty amazing. The policy back in 2018 was only 1 month (still not bad, but not as great as other places). We updated it in 2019, but Riot backdated it to all births that occurred in 2018. I ended up acquiring an extra 2 months of time off.
I'm one of those people that are really bad at disconnecting from my work, because I genuinely love it, and I'm highly engaged. Some of the folks from my office legitimately threatened disabling my work messenger and email access if I didn't disconnect responsibly. :)
Hey, right on FFXIV patch day. Works out well for me!
Good work Rito, you deserve some time off. Thanks for keeping the game running even through a global pandemic.
I'm kind of hoping that BG3 drops... Just saw the update. It looks like it won't be happening in August. :(
I'm not an engineering manager, but I am a tech lead of two teams with roughly ~15 people across them. I frequently advocate for folks to take time off and encourage folks to find healthy ways to disconnect.
I also know folks who's personal value (their own self-evaluation) is tied to their outputs in work and currently live alone in this covid-19 work from home world we're in. For some, taking time off can actually be a negative effect.
As an aside though, I'd say we definitely don't have a "never use your PTO" work culture. As an example of this, our paternity leave is pretty amazing. The policy back in 2018 was only 1 month (still not bad, but not as great as other places). We updated it in 2019, but Riot backdated it to all births that occurred in 2018. I ended up acquiring an extra 2 months of time off.
I'm one of those people that are really bad at disconnecting from my work, because I genuinely love it, and I'm highly engaged. Some of the folks from my office legitimately threatened disabling my work messenger and email access if I didn't disconnect responsibly. :)
I also know folks who's personal value (their own self-evaluation) is tied to their outputs in work and currently live alone in this covid-19 work from home world we're in. For some, taking time off can actually be a negative effect.
Hey, right on FFXIV patch day. Works out well for me!
Good work Rito, you deserve some time off. Thanks for keeping the game running even through a global pandemic.
I can't wait for FFXIV 5.3, the timing is so awesome.
Oh man, yeah I'm hype for that release, too. Sad it won't make your week off, but if I'm honest, my wallet is kinda grateful to have a few things bounced out of August.
I hear you. I personally have been spending way too much on valorant points...
That's not the case in my opinion. But I think a lot of Rioters have kind of been like, "What's the point?" with taking PTO during COVID because it's not like we can go anywhere or do anything.
If anything we have a "please use your PTO" culture. I can't tell you the amount of times my manager, team members, and team lead have said, "Please take off time. Get off Slack. Disconnect."
+1 On this! Sometimes during my PTO I would try to sneak back in for something and some people catch me and tell me to get off slack. haha
+1 On this! Sometimes during my PTO I would try to sneak back in for something and some people catch me and tell me to get off slack. haha
You mean like I had to do with a certain other sound designer over the weekend???
Is there a bonus program in place that corresponds to hours worked at all? At companies with unlimited PTO policies there is usually some sort of program in place to incentivize employees not to abuse it. In my experience this ends up encouraging employees not to use PTO at all, however.
My company has unlimited PTO, and definitely encourages employees to take time off, but because employees want a fat bonus they don't take time off.
No, and I don't think that would be healthy, personally. I wouldn't want to work for a place that gave me a bonus to not take personal time to reset and recharge. I'm really glad Riot doesn't do that.
If anything we have a "please use your PTO" culture. I can't tell you the amount of times my manager, team members, and team lead have said, "Please take off time. Get off Slack. Disconnect."
This makes me wonder, is there a disparity between "work culture" per corporate / management messaging and "work culture" in unspoken practice? Because in another comment you say...
...I think the empathy and compassion for our teammates can definitely impact the amount of time we take off. I know I want to make sure my coworkers don't have to pick up my slack if I'm taking off.
...and I believe that is exactly what the parent comment was referring to by
i wonder if they have a "never use your PTO" work culture. can't imagine why this would be necessary otherwise.
It doesn't really matter what the "please take PTO" messaging from management is, if the prevailing sentiment among employees is that doing so is unfair to your coworkers, or something else along those lines.
I wouldn't say it's a prevailing sentiment. I just think Rioters, overall, really care about one another. I work with some of my best friends, and I'm so grateful for that. But on the flip side it comes with my absolute inability to add to their workload--which they wouldn't view it as, let me make that clear.
It's just a perception thing, I think. "I don't want to take off because I don't want Riot Aryeila (or bananaband1t or Dyquill or whatacoolwitch...) to take on extra workload." But the reality is they wouldn't have to. Things can get pushed back. It's fine. It's just us being concerned for our friends and coworkers and wanting to make sure they can focus 100% on the stuff they're doing.
TL;DR: I don't think it matters. I'm just neurotic and don't want to add any perceived workload to my friends. But the reality is they wouldn't have to pick up the slack from me being out.
the first time ive seen rioters in a thread on reddit in forever. would be nice to see some feedback on other issues that pop up. like loss of tokens from event pass.
this thread is just a circle jerk of them talking about how great riot's pto system is. feels like a hidden #ad tbh
Sometimes Rioters do comment on those threads, but in general you only want to comment on threads related to your subject matter expertise if you're being Professional About It, and engaging with any kind of social media is.. emotionally taxing.
Just because we don't respond, doesn't mean we didn't see! You're seeing lots of comments here because everyone is pretty familiar on Riot's PTO policy.
You mean like I had to do with a certain other sound designer over the weekend???
:monkas:
Our contractors have paid time off with the rest of us <3
Edit: RIP no flair
Can confirm. Leadership was adamant that our Contractors get the time off with pay too. We want them to be able to relax and take time rather than be stressed out.
wait ur the insights guy
I am! But Riot KDan is a sound designer I worked with and another sound designer was working on Saturday to send me some files and I told him to get off Slack.
That's literally what crunch culture leads to lmao.
Maybe? I crunched like crazy at my last job, but the patch cycles here don't usually require it. I have busy times, sure. I wrote 7 BTS articles for Spirit Blossom. But now I'm back to playing a game of League (or 2) every day with further out deadlines.
Then you remember all the other stuff about riot work culture and feel bad again
I don't usually comments on this stuff, but I literally signed my acceptance offer the day before Kotaku came out. The next day my team all contacted me to talk about it. And even though I do the Champion Insights and stuff I'm on the corporate communications team. And I'm a woman.
I genuinely think Riot is a great place to work. I love my coworkers, I love my job, I love my team, and I love working here.
No company is perfect. But I've never worked at a company where I could openly voice my concerns or opinions in front of the whole company including leadership and NOT worry about my job. I think that's pretty amazing, tbh.
Came in here to say this, lmao. We all know y'all just secret FFXIV addicts, Riot. Taking the week off for a whole company patch bonanza.
...they know...
I get the feeling that a lot of the Rioters are workaholic....
I think that's the issue doing something you love... You just don't know when to stop. Fortunately Riot's leadership, managers, and other Rioters tell us to take time off and fully support it.
haha I too love being a sound designer at riot!
I know you're memeing but if it's something you're interested you should DM Riot KDan. He actually is one and he's incredible.
Nah i'm more on the music production side of things but I've just always loved everything you guys have done sonically. I'm also more self taught so not really all that qualified haha otherwise I totally would look for a job at riot
I'm sure we have some self taught sound designers. And it's not like they don't use producers. ;)
