Employers brace for GTA VI sickies

The game is the first new instalment in 13 years and has become the most pre-ordered game ever in Sony and Microsoft’s digital stores, according to both companies. Australians will be among the first to play when it unlocks at midnight on November 19.

Rostering app Deputy analysed data from past launches and found that when Overwatch 2 went on wide release in August 2023, 12.7 per cent of rostered shifts went unworked, up from a typical 6.55 per cent, a jump of almost 94 per cent. On every launch studied, absenteeism also rose the day before the release as players cleared their schedules to download the game.

“The real trap for businesses is the day-before download spike,” said Deputy’s chief technology officer, Ciaran Hale. “With GTA VI’s level of anticipation, it’s likely to cause a major, multi-day scheduling crunch across the frontline workforce.”

This time, Sony and Microsoft opened preloading of GTA VI more than a week early, which may reduce the day-before rush.

Payroll data from Employment Hero shows that leave booked for November 19 is up 29 per cent on the same Thursday last year across more than 870,000 Australian workers, with men aged 18 to 44 accounting for three-quarters of the rise. The payroll data suggests many workers are planning ahead rather than calling in sick.

Brendan Delacoe, 31, a truck driver in Melbourne, told his manager he would need launch day and the day after off as soon as pre-orders opened. “I just messaged it straight up, like, GTA’s dropping, so there’s no hiding it,” he said. “You know, gotta prioritise things.” He said the op shop would be able to cover his shifts.

Professor Mark Wooden of the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Institute said a hit to productivity was “certain” and likely to be bigger than at any previous launch, though probably too small to show up in national statistics. He noted that more office workers can now work from home and play while claiming to work.

PR consultant Eitan Soloducho estimated that launch day could cost the Australian economy at least $70 million, assuming one in 100 of the country’s roughly 14 million workers pulls a sickie to play.

Casey Jones, head of healthcare marketing agency Medical Marketing Group, has given everyone the day off. “The team works exceptionally hard all year, so it’s the least I can do,” he said. “Plus, to be honest, I’m pretty keen to play myself.” Jones said not every business would be on board, but with economic pressures, a little time off for joy was needed.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has published advice on taking time off for the game’s launch. Paid sick leave is for workers genuinely unfit for work, and employers can ask for evidence. Unpaid leave requires the employer’s agreement.

Deputy is urging businesses to treat November 18 to 20 as a high-risk window and to over-roster, giving staff a legitimate way to trade out of launch-window shifts weeks ahead so they swap instead of no-show.