Polish developer apologises following criticism for naked sauna job requirement
A Polish developer has come under fire for expecting employees to agree to mandatory sauna sessions.
In a now viral LinkedIn exchange, Spectrum Studio creative director Jacek Piórkowski approached narrative designer and writer Aleksandra Wolna about working for his studio. Wolna replied to state Piórkowski had previously approached her about a job, and she had declined as it required her to agree to mandatory and reportedly naked sauna sessions.
“Jacek started a conversation with me under a post about me looking for a job. I did my research on him and his studio and politely declined because of the sauna thing,” Wolna told Eurogamer. “I later posted about the situation about All In Games employees that weren’t getting paid and are now looking for a job, since I am also owed a lot of money by this company. Suddenly, Jacek appeared offering me a job again.”
“I reminded him that I declined and told him why, which can be seen on those viral screenshots,” Wolna continued. “Jacek then started to convince me and others that there is nothing wrong with what he’s expecting of his employees.”
Reportedly, publisher All In Games hasn’t paid its employees for half a year, as a result of its “temporary” financial crisis.
Piórkowski has amended a number of his comments on LinkedIn in the time since his initial post to Wolna, but still defends the decision to ask employees to participate in sauna sessions, stating the requirement is in place because it is what the studio’s game is about. “I don’t want to waste my time to explain what’s the difference between Ruska Bania or Dry Sauna. You have to feel it,” Piórkowski wrote.
A job listing for the game Piórkowski is referring to reads as follows:
“Spectrum Studio is working on new groundbreaking game: mix of Life is Strange (Narrative), Final Fantasy (story, characters), Heart of Darkness (adventure levels with dog), The Turyst (exploration and questing) and THPS2 (tricks and specials).
“Main character will be saunamaster and will be in charge of performing in various saunas (smells, music, choreography, everything).”
The studio then lists the position’s requirements, and it is here mandatory sauna sessions are specified (there is no mention of nudity here). Spectrum Studio also said it would provide “plannings in sauna, free of charge” within this post.
On a separate LinkedIn thread, Piórkowski said this mandate “is not about getting naked”, but rather experiencing different kinds of saunas. The developer said the “wetness” level inside certain saunas can get very high, and if someone was using a towel it “may result with fungal infection”, which is why there are times participants are recommended to go in nude.
