Valve has managed to find success both as a game developer and through its Steam gaming platform, and a lot of that may come down to the company’s famously flat structure. There are no managers at Valve, and the company doesn’t track things like sick days or vacation time. In an interview with The Washington Post, Valve’s Gabe Newell provides a bit more insight into how the studio is structured, and why it can create culture shock for new hires. “It’s actually a pretty minor issue in terms of how much time people actually spend on vacation or sick leave,” says Newell. “But it’s a really important issue for someone who is, say, coming out of Hollywood.” Now the company is hoping that structure will help it in the world of hardware, as it prepares to launch its Steam Machines initiative — be sure to check out the Post for the full interview.
Why Valve doesn’t care if you take a sick day
is an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.
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