Joe Brammer, CEO of Bulkhead and executive producer for the hit Steam title Wardogs, has stated that the studio screens the social media accounts of prospective employees. Those found to have publicly criticized crunch time in game development are unlikely to be hired.
In an interview with The Game Business, Brammer acknowledged that while Bulkhead aims to avoid crunch, it is sometimes unavoidable. He indicated that individuals who are vocal against the practice would not be a good fit for the studio. "We check people’s socials, and if you’re constantly tweeting anti-crunch messaging: ‘This should never ever be a thing,’ we know that and go, ‘Look, you’re not going to be happy here, so we’re not going to go with you,'" Brammer explained. He further clarified his stance, stating, "I expect people to crunch. I own that. I don’t try and hide it."
Brammer suggested that employees who are passionate about their work and the final product will feel valued, whereas those who are not will feel "slave-driven." He also mentioned that employees who own shares in the company can receive bonuses for successful games like Wardogs, which has sold two million copies. However, the report notes that not all employees benefit financially. Brammer did add that this shared financial upside could allow junior developers to afford a down payment on a house. Despite this, Bulkhead has laid off employees annually for the past six years, although the studio has been recognized as one of the UK's "Best Places To Work" in recent years.