The Star
Sep 25, 2016
It has fired up gamers all over Malaysia, but now,
PokĂŠmon Go has led to some being fired.
The game has proven to be a huge hit here, but it is
game over for some who persistently played it during working
hours.
Six employers have dismissed workers for playing the
popular location-based game while at work, reveals a survey by the
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).
MEF executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan says the
poll on the impact of the game on workers was taken among 150
employers in various sectors.
"Based on our preliminary findings, six employers, or 4
per cent of the 150 companies, admitted that workers who
indulged too much in the game have been dismissed," he
tells Sunday Star.
Other actions taken by employers included advising
employees against playing the game during work hours, issuing
warning letters and imposing suspensions from work without pay.
The survey also shows that employers are taking a
strong stance against the game with 95 per cent of the
respondents saying they do not allow employees to access the app at
work.
"Some 96 per cent also prohibit workers from using
the company e-mail address to sign up for the game," Shamsuddin
says.
The survey found that 25 per cent of bosses have
caught employees playing the game during work hours.
âSome 11 per cent of employers also claim that
their workers are taking a longer lunch break because of the game,â
he says, adding that 50 per cent of poll participants were
from the manufacturing sector while the rest were from other
industries.
Employers are also taking it a step further, with 54
per cent wanting to request that game developer Niantic Labs
remove PokĂŠStops and Gyms near their offices or work place.
PokĂŠStops are spots for players to replenish game items while
PokĂŠGyms are where players can go to battle and train their
monsters.
As it continues to
âlevel upâ on popularity, the game has spawned a culture of people
walking around in search of cyber monsters in their homes, parks,
workplaces, commercial areas and even places of worship.The
popular game, which requires players to move around in real life to
catch not-so-real 'pocket monsters', or PokĂŠmon, has been received
with open arms by Malaysians since its launch on Aug 6 here.
But the addictive, augmented reality game is worrying
the MEF to that employees will not be giving their best at
work.
Shamsuddin says 5 per cent of employers also found
their workers to be breaching the companyâs restricted areas to
catch the monsters in the game.
However, on the flip side, some 19 per cent of
employers in the survey â including those in the food and beverage
industry â found that the game is good for business.
"Most employers are still trying to assess the
situation. It is too early for us to set a standard policy for all
employers on PokĂŠmon Go," says Shamsuddin.
He says while the hype about the game has fizzled out
compared to when it was first launched, employers should adopt a
stand that discourages employees from playing on work premises so
that it will not affect work performance.
Event director and PokĂŠmon Go enthusiast Syafiq Nizar
Radzi says playing the game during working hours is "extremely
unprofessional."
"Employers should be professional too and strict
warnings should been given to the errant worker. But if they refuse
to adapt to company policy after that, then a dismissal sounds
completely fair," he says.
Syafiq Nizar says extending lunch hours for any reason
is also unprofessional and it is best to keep any recreational
activities outside working hours.
A company executive who wants to be known only as Jean,
31, says employers have every right to ban their employees from
playing the game.
âSome companies have even banned their workers from
going on Facebook.
âHowever, a dismissal is only fair if the employee has
been warned that it is against company policy. They shouldnât fire
at the first shot,â she says.
Another PokĂŠmon Go player, known only as Simon, says
his enjoyment of the game would be affected if employers started
removing PokĂŠStops.
âIt is a bit too severe to fire someone just for
playing the game. The overall work performance of that person
should be considered,â he adds.
stomp
