Logitech offers its 7,000 employees paid leave to play video games before GTA VI launch: ‘Gaming is not a waste of time’

Swiss-American tech company Logitech has taken a unique approach to prepare for the upcoming launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, offering its 7,000 employees a paid leave to play video games at its headquarters in San Jose. The company, valued at $13 billion, has branded this initiative "Logi Game Day" and aims to dispel the notion that gaming is a waste of time.

This benefit is open to all employees, from interns to permanent staff, who can choose any day until the end of next year to indulge in gaming activities. Logitech is also hosting a gaming livestream at the office on November 19, the official release date of GTA VI, where employees can engage in friendly competition. However, not everyone plans to take advantage of this perk on the launch day.

Elaine Laird, Logitech's chief people officer, plans to utilize her gaming leave on a different day, stating she's ready for some fun and a bit of competition. The company's stance on gaming is supported by data from its Ctrl Tomorrow study, which found that 81% of gamers surveyed feel gaming boosts their confidence in real-world situations, reduces anxiety, and improves their everyday performance.

Logitech's chief financial officer, Matteo Anversa, plans to spend his gaming day playing Forza on a racing simulator. The company's initiative comes as expectations grow that the release of GTA VI could lead to increased employee absences, with workplace data from BambooHR showing a 13% rise in leave requests for November 19 compared to previous years.

Half of the gamers planning to take leave for the game's launch prefer to call in sick rather than officially schedule time off. Logitech's spokesperson reassured employees that they won't complain if they choose to play on the launch day.