From Fastcompany · · 2m
Workers are taking time off to play Grand Theft Auto VI
A new survey shows 39% of gamers plan to request PTO for the game's November 19 release, with others calling in sick or working from home instead.
In brief
A new survey shows 39% of gamers plan to request PTO for the game's November 19 release, with others calling in sick or working from home instead. Ahead of Grand Theft Auto VI's November 19 release, a survey found 39% of employed gamers plan to request PTO, 36% will call in sick, and 32% will work from home instead…
GTA flu sweeps the nation
Workers are calling in sick to play Grand Theft Auto VI when it releases on PlayStation five and Xbox Series X slash S consoles on November nineteen.
Survey reveals time-off plans
GameSquare and Pollfish surveyed one thousand employed U.S. adults who play video games regularly. Thirty-nine percent plan to request PTO in advance for the game.
Sick days and remote work
The survey found thirty-six percent said they will call in sick, and thirty-two percent said they would work from home that day instead of taking formal time off.
Gaming's scale in America
More than one hundred ninety million Americans are gamers, making this data relevant for understanding workforce behavior and time-off patterns across the nation.
Jake's four-day weekend
Jake, who works in tech PR, is taking November nineteen and twenty off to make it a four-day weekend. His manager gave her blessing when he asked.
“She gave a mildly amused shrug and said, 'It's your PTO, use it how you want.'”
Jake's midnight launch plan
He plans to log his first few hours at midnight on November nineteen, sleep, take care of a couple things the next morning, then dive back in.
“I'll probably log my first few hours at midnight on the 19th, sleep, take care of a couple things the next morning, and dive back in.”
Rockstar's billion-dollar franchise
Grand Theft Auto is one of the best-selling video game series of all time and has earned Rockstar Games billions of dollars since its debut in nineteen ninety-seven.
Thirteen years of waiting
It has been thirteen long years since a new title in the main Grand Theft Auto series was released, building enormous anticipation among gamers worldwide.
Critics' verdict on the game
Critics say Grand Theft Auto VI is the most anticipated video game of the decade, explaining the widespread enthusiasm for taking time off to play it.
Workplace readiness question
Gamers are ready for the release, but offices might not be prepared for the wave of time-off requests and absences that could follow on November nineteenth.
Larger workplace culture issues
The phenomenon hints at larger cultural issues in the workplace around work-life balance, employee autonomy, and how companies handle time-off requests for personal pursuits.
The takeaway
Ahead of Grand Theft Auto VI's November 19 release, a survey found 39% of employed gamers plan to request PTO, 36% will call in sick, and 32% will work from home instead.
