At Subtale, we are dedicated to creating a healthy and sustainable work environment. With this in mind, Subtale proudly declares itself a “Crunch-Free Zone.”

This framework outlines our commitment to eliminating crunch and ensuring a balanced work-life dynamic for our team. Furthermore, this framework extends to encompass all contributors to Subtale titles, including support staff, contractors, and other external personnel.

Actions speak louder than words, so rather than write corporate jargon about how we plan to tackle crunch, this framework will outline tangible actions that we are taking to promote healthy working.

<aside> ⁉️ If you have any questions about this framework or believe we aren't practising what we preach, please contact [email protected], who will personally handle your request.

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People are more important than deadlines.

We conduct fortnightly reviews of project timelines and development progress to identify if we're on track to meet our projections.

If we identify in two consecutive reviews that we're on course to miss deadlines, a “deadline review” meeting is held to reassess timelines. The intention of this meeting is not to blame individuals or teams but to ensure that deadlines are adjusted appropriately or project scope is reduced to avoid situations where crunch becomes a necessary evil.

The combination of high review frequency (fortnightly) and the requirement for consecutive progress checks before triggering a deadline review ensures that we proactively adjust project timelines without making rash decisions based on an isolated window of time.

Honesty and regular communication is key.

We inspire a culture of honest and transparent communication. With this culture, we want to ensure that everyone feels their voice is heard, and no one is ever made to feel like they must overwork or crunch.

We actively encourage our team members to speak up if they're struggling with their workload or feeling pressured. All concerns are taken seriously and addressed promptly, without fear of reprisal or judgment. This ensures that our team can focus on doing their best work without the stress of unrealistic expectations.

We conduct monthly, confidential check ins with individuals to discuss workload, stress levels, and any other concerns they may have. This regular dialogue allows us to identify any potential issues early and to take proactive measures. If this framework leads to constant reactive actions, it isn’t fit for purpose and needs reevaluating at a core level.