Everyone’s taking PTO and sick days to play ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’

The highly-anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI is causing a national phenomenon known as the "GTA flu." According to a survey by GameSquare and Pollfish, 39% of full-time employed U.S. adults who regularly play video games plan to request time off to play the game, while 36% intend to call in sick, and 32% want to work from home on November 19, the game's release date.

This anticipated game is the latest in the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto series, which has been one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time since its debut in 1997. The Wall Street Journal warns of a "work blackout" as the release of the game could cost the U.S. $1 billion in productivity due to absenteeism.

Companies like Burger Motorsports have announced temporary operational pauses for their employees, who are planning to take off work in large numbers to celebrate this cultural event. Despite the growing trend of workers taking time off for big cultural events, some employers are uncomfortable with the idea and may not support their employees' requests for time off.

However, experts argue that good leaders should be able to integrate such events into the workflow without judgment, as it is a common occurrence and a part of modern culture.