Bosses Concerned That GTA 6 Release Will Cause Massive Drop in Productivity

With the highly anticipated release of "Grand Theft Auto VI" (GTA VI) on November 19, many bosses are bracing for a potential drop in productivity among their workforce. The game marks the first installment in the beloved franchise in 13 years and has already garnered nearly 5 million pre-orders worldwide.

Working class gamers have long taken advantage of game releases by calling in sick the day they are released, and now developers have even issued fake doctor's notes to encourage the practice. "Grand Theft Auto VI" is expected to generate a similar reaction, potentially leading to a significant loss in workplace productivity.

Employees have already begun planning their absence. Bud Burruss, a software engineer and father of three, plans to take a full five days off to play the game. "I’m not going to be playing it for, like, 20 hours straight like an absentee father," Burruss explained. "But right out of the gate we’re going hard. I’ll have the cave door shut."

Medical sales rep Anna Ray has even rescheduled her time off to coincide with the game's release, taking Thursday to Thursday off. "I’m like, you know what, if we are for sure doing this on Nov 19, I’m taking Thursday to Thursday off," Ray told the Wall Street Journal.

While the exact impact on workplace productivity remains to be seen, the hype surrounding "GTA VI" suggests it will not be a zero effect. The game's long-term impact on employee productivity after gamers return to work is also worth considering. A recent analysis based on a survey of 2,000 gamers found that late-night gaming sessions can lead to a two-hour drop in productivity the following day.

In an era of record corporate profits and low wages, perhaps managers can consider allowing their employees to enjoy a day or five of uninterrupted gaming. After all, the least managers can do is support their workers' enjoyment of a much-deserved break.