Beenox

Beenox

The Activision-owned developer offers a wealth of benefits and processes designed specifically to boost the happiness and professional growth of its staff.

The company boasts first class training and coaching, and the majority of its leadership roles are filled internally.

"That guarantees that the persons responsible for taking decisions on behalf of the team know how their decisions will impact the day-to-day job of everyone and what type of concerns may arise from a production standpoint," explains creative director and co-studio head Thomas Wilson.

"We also foster leadership development through our Beenox University program, which allows employees to take leadership classes."

Then there are the benefits, such as affordable group insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plans, paid overtime, on-site gym and flexible working hours.

Those, combined with the fact Beenox works on some of the biggest AAA IP in the world (including Call of Duty and Skylanders) has made the firm a popular place.

"We also feel what sets us apart is the camaraderie that we cultivate through our numerous social activities," continues HR manager Maxime Turcotte. "The Christmas Party, the end-of-project celebrations, the movie nights out, the annual BBQ, the Friday mixers, the Extra-Life fundraiser, the boxing club, and the list goes on. In addition to these employer-sponsored events, we benefit from a prolific social club that makes sure no special occasion goes unnoticed. All these activities help Beenox to create a tremendous atmosphere and to develop a tight-knit studio culture."

Beenox collaborates with various Activision studios and is often jumping from project to project, which means its teams have to juggle different styles, engines and development processes.

"To support employees, we need to continuously invest time, energy and resources in developing new skills and exploring new tools and methods," Wilson adds. "This is by far our greatest challenge and, interestingly, our biggest strength. In the long run, working on so many titles allowed our employees to gain a large spectrum of skills and to explore a vast array of methods and tools that they would not have been able to acquire in a traditional AAA environment.

"One other perk of having to work with many partners is the opportunity to travel. Many of our employees are traveling to other studios."

Beenox is constantly looking to evolve. The firm is upgrading its offices by improving the common areas, meeting rooms, cafeteria and lobby. It is also planning to add a new rooftop terrace. These changes have all come about through employee surveys and meetings.

"When Beenox introduces something new, like these facility upgrades, it does not come as a surprise," Concludes president and co-studio head Sylvain Morel. "It emerges from all the ongoing conversations and transparency that have happened previously."