Valve – Handbook for New Employees [pdf]

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14 points·vishnumohandas··7 comments

There is a lot of evidence, albeit unverified, that the working environment at Valve is actually extremely toxic and unpleasant. Here is a sampling:

https://www.reddit.com/r/valve/comments/bwxp6g/i_worked_at_v...

https://www.pcgamer.com/ex-valve-employee-describes-ruthless...

https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Valve-Corporation-Reviews-... - numerous reviews

https://www.wired.com/2013/07/wireduk-valve-jeri-ellsworth/

There is enough smoke that I think it's reasonable to conclude there is fire, and I would look very skeptically upon the idea of working at Valve.

I’m skeptical of this stuff. I’m learned from the Internet that my own company was a toxic place to work, which aside from some folk’s isolated (unfortunate) cases, leadership was quick to root out issues. I don’t think my company was a shining beacon but it also wasn’t “bad” compared to other places.

I apply there once every couple years. I'd be happy to just be the donut guy there. Some day, some day.

This again -- FYI this is a recruiting document and doesn't match to their culture in practice.

Care to highlight the differences?

https://www.pcgamer.com/ex-valve-employee-describes-ruthless... This is the most illuminating, but here are others:

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/187296/How_Valve_hires_h...

https://www.wired.com/2013/07/wireduk-valve-jeri-ellsworth/

https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Valve-Corporation-Reviews-...

I would take the handbook as more of a vision document than as a true account of the experience.

Did you work there?

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