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Sprung Studios

Sprung Studios reviews

A mixed bag - IT Support Sprung Studios Employee Review

3.0

19 Apr 2024

It support

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

- The best aspect of working at Sprung would have to be the people. They are great to be around and very passionate about their work. They are more than happy to chat and teach anyone about their craft if someone is curious. There isn't a sense of hierarchy on the floor between the associates and seniors, which opens the floor for feedback and suggestions going both ways. - The benefits offered at Sprung are great and cover a wide range of services. Since the office is located in downtown Vancouver, it is easy to access said services after work. - Another strong positive of working at Sprung is the chance to work with a wide range of gaming companies, whether they are AAA studios or mid-sized studios looking for external input. Though you don't get to choose the projects you work on, you can let management know of your interests. - There are monthly social events scheduled, where there's free food, and is a great platform for people to connect with those who don't get to interact with as much on an everyday basis. - It is also a great way to enter the industry and build your career. As the studio is fine with hiring someone with less experience and showing them the ropes. Though I cannot speak in depth about other teams, from my observation over my tenure, I can say that Sprung seems to be a great place to work, if you are on a team other than IT.

Cons

- Though there isn't crunch time for the most part, at times it feels as if the team members are pressured into completing tasks within a certain time frame. Some producers are very good at getting the team involved in the process to make sure the scope fits the timeline, while it doesn't seem like the case for all of them. - For the IT department, it desperately needs to be expanded. The department consists of 1 IT Support/Administrator based in Vancouver and Brighton office each. They are expected to research, discuss, and develop implementations for the whole organization in addition to providing end-user support, project setups, in-office improvement, as well as providing technical support for any events. There would at least need to be an IT head/director plus another IT Support at the Vancouver office, in order to properly support the population as well as implementing processes and changes. - As touched on briefly from the previous point, there isn't a head/ director or even a senior in the IT team, which leads to the problem of no technical supervisor being present. It is difficult to get different perspective on technical problems, as well as trying to improve the way you work. - There isn't much documentation to learn from, not to mention how things are configured. During my onboarding, it was very difficult to get settled in work-wise, because I had to figure out on the fly how the system was set up. This point has been improved somewhat over time, though I would argue that it still isn't enough. - The compensation for the IT role is lacking, if you consider the scope of the role, the fact that you are the lone IT professional in the office and there aren't any certifications you can work on while you are at the company. - The communication between the IT and middle/senior management is lacking at times. As the Vancouver IT would have to reach out to the studio director often for request approvals, there are times when your messages are ignored or the meeting/standups/syncs being cancelled or scheduled last minute. Though I don't necessarily think that these cons are due to incompetence, I believe that these issues are perhaps caused by the organization growing too fast and there weren't systems and processes implemented in place to better support the company. Despite these cons, please do not take this as a "stay away" warning from the company. I've enjoyed my time at Sprung and would recommend to other IT professionals to apply. However, you must be prepared to be very flexible and patient during your time, as there often are last-minute adjustments you need to make, sometimes caused by a lack of communication process with IT.

Sprung Studios Response

Thank you for sharing your constructive feedback about working at Sprung Studios. We appreciate the positive feedback about the culture and people you work with, and we want to address your concerns regarding your feedback. First, we are happy to hear that you find the people at Sprung to be great to work with. We're also pleased that you found our benefits package comprehensive and our downtown Vancouver location central. It's encouraging that you appreciate the opportunity to work with various gaming companies, both AAA and mid-sized studios. We strive to provide our employees with exposure to multiple projects and the ability to express their interests, even if project assignments are not always a direct choice. We're glad our monthly social events and open hiring practices resonate positively with you. Fostering a sense of community and providing opportunities for career growth are essential aspects of our company culture. Your feedback on the IT department's staffing and resource constraints is noted. We recognize the critical role that IT plays in supporting our operations, and we will evaluate the need for additional resources, including a dedicated IT Lead, to ensure that the department can effectively support our growing organization. The issue of technical supervision and documentation within the IT team is a valid concern. We understand the importance of knowledge sharing, mentorship, and clear processes for onboarding and system configuration. We have already made this a top priority, and there is documentation, onboarding, and daily activities that provide opportunities for technical guidance and professional development within the IT department. Compensation is another area where we strive to remain competitive and aligned with industry standards. We use competitive compensation through salary banding, looking at market rates within the industry to inform our salary bands. Finally, we acknowledge the need for improved communication between IT and management. Clear and timely communication is essential for effective collaboration and decision-making. We have enhanced our communication channels to ensure that IT's voices are heard and their needs are addressed promptly. Thank you again for your candid feedback. We value the contributions of our employees and are committed to creating an environment that supports their growth and well-being.

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5.0

17 Jan 2025

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Sprung Studios has always prioritized its employees. Whether it's learning and development, inclusivity, support, or celebrating accomplishments, Sprung always prioritizes employee satisfaction, no matter the company's size. The company has grown drastically over the last five years, but despite this growth, the enjoyment and daily satisfaction of working here have not shifted. The work completed and the team you work alongside daily is always so refreshing and uplifting. It's a pleasure to work on what I must say are the top games in the world developed by a top UX/UI studio that I am proud to work for. The work expectations are clear, the salary is competitive, the benefits are excellent, and the support structure is phenomenal. This is truly a great place to work and I am forever grateful for the opportunities I have had here and the opportunities I look forward to.

Cons

I can't think of any.

Sprung Studios Response

Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience at Sprung Studios. Creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported and excited about their work is a top priority for us and it’s great to know that this is reflected in your experience. Your feedback about the senior leadership visit is greatly appreciated - as always, we loved the opportunity to connect with the team in the Brighton studio. Thanks again for being a part of Sprung Studios. We’re grateful for your contributions and excited for what’s ahead!

3.0

22 Apr 2024

Designer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Great foot-in-the-door opportunity Great quality of work and understanding of UX/UI design requirements across the industry Great people Studio trips (sometimes) No crunch

Cons

Very clear favouritism across the board with heavy differences in treatment received between the Brighton vs Vancouver studios (with the latter being heavily favoured and looked after better by the CEO) Gender pay gap (compensation and benefits in general severely lacking) Lack of recognition to hard-working people, especially women A certain member of the senior team is essentially allowed to put in minimal effort without ever being questioned and gets away with acting in a very unprofessional manner way too often. Production in general felt like the most troubling department to work with; they seem to push for pleasing clients more than protecting their own teams from being overworked Certain other department heads equally unprofessional, especially towards female members of the team Senior management allows clients to verbally disrespect Sprung employees without batting an eyelid It was admitted by a senior member of staff that pay rises are not earned for working hard, but rather for loyalty (so just staying longer at the company; performance doesn't matter)

Sprung Studios Response

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We value all perspectives as they help us improve. However, we were disheartened to read about your experience, which doesn’t align with our organisational values and the experiences we provide our employees. Therefore, it is essential to address some inaccuracies in your review. Regarding the alleged discrepancy between offices, we assure you that all our locations operate under the same standards and policies and strive to maintain consistency across all locations. While our offices are in different places, such as Brighton, UK, and Vancouver, Canada, we treat all our staff equally, no matter their office. Fairness and equity are the foundation of our company's operations. We have robust policies in place to ensure fair compensation practices regardless of gender, such as our banding structure. Regular audits are conducted to address any discrepancies, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to equity in all aspects of our business. We also provide a range of benefits to support our employees' well-being, including private health care, well-being days, and a hybrid work model with additional work-from-home days. Our company conducts salary reviews that inform our pay banding structure to ensure all our salaries are competitive and in range with all departments. Performance reviews occur annually, and pay increases are received in alignment with our banding. We recognize loyalty at the organisation with annual bonuses and loyalty bonuses. Recognition is a pillar of our culture, and we actively celebrate the contributions of all team members. From peer-to-peer recognition to formal awards, we strive to ensure that every employee feels valued and appreciated for their hard work and dedication. We take professionalism seriously, and unprofessional behaviour is addressed promptly through our established HR processes. Our company culture emphasizes respect, integrity, and collaboration, and we hold ourselves and our employees to the highest standards. Our employees' well-being is a top priority for us. We have a core value of 'no crunch time' and mechanisms in place to monitor workloads and prevent overworking. We actively encourage open communication to address any concerns about workload imbalance. This is facilitated through regular one-to-ones with employees and their managers, mid-year check-ins with HR, and annual reviews throughout the year. We want every employee to feel supported and empowered to succeed in a positive work environment. We have zero tolerance for disrespectful behaviour, whether from clients or employees. Any instances of misconduct are thoroughly investigated and addressed in accordance with our policies and procedures, which are set out in our Employee Handbook. We understand that individual experiences may vary, and we encourage you to contact HR or management directly to address any concerns. We are committed to fostering a positive work environment where every employee feels supported and empowered to succeed. While it's unfortunate that this employee wasn't satisfied with their experience at Sprung Studios, we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

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