Discover the Winners of the 2020 UK Best Places to Work Awards

The 2020 UK Best Places to Work Awards shine a spotlight on the video game companies in the UK that excel in supporting and caring for their employees, a topic that has faced intense scrutiny this year. The Black Lives Matter movement has prompted self-reflection on our treatment of marginalized groups, and the revelations have not always been positive. Ongoing abuse scandals among industry leaders have raised concerns about company culture and practices. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the gaming industry to adapt to remote work, presenting challenges in communication, mental health, and crunch time. The Best Places to Work Awards aim to address, support, and find a way forward through these issues via talks, conference sessions, and features, while also providing feedback to participating companies, whether they win or lose. These awards remind us that despite troubling headlines, the right company can make this industry a wonderful place to work. With over 70 participating companies and more than 4,000 staff surveyed to determine the winners, the results are telling. A significant 91% of respondents expressed satisfaction with their employer, while only 4% were dissatisfied. Moreover, 84% look forward to going to work most days, and 91.5% feel secure in their jobs, a remarkable statistic considering the pandemic-induced lockdown. Additionally, 91.5% trust their boss, and 86% have confidence in their leadership, indicating positive work environments. However, there were areas for improvement: only 75% received the necessary initial training, 76% found deadlines realistic, 71% believed staffing levels were adequate, and 78% felt their company sufficiently supported minority groups. While these figures might be skewed due to the voluntary participation of companies, they suggest that negative experiences and abusive employers are not the norm. The interviews with the 15 badge winners will provide insights into what makes a great workplace in 2020, aiming to raise the bar for game industry employees nationwide. The awards are judged through a comprehensive employer questionnaire, worth 25% of the final score, which covers aspects like staff pay, benefits, and maternity leave. The remaining 75% is determined by an employee satisfaction survey, where existing employees are asked to agree or disagree with 50 statements, such as trusting their boss or feeling discriminated against. Red line areas, including discrimination and crunch, are closely examined, with companies required to score above 85% and pass these areas to win an award.