An uncomfortable thought

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

Have your gaming hobbies ever been an issue at work?

There are a lot of ways online activity can cost someone a job and some of them are obvious. For example, don't rag on your boss on Facebook. On the other hand, however, sometime irrelevant activities can cost someone a job or at least become an issue. Workplace politics can be a blood sport, and anything can and will be used against you. For example, if a boss or coworker plans an event when he knows you've got a date, to test your company loyalty, then a boss or coworker and put the screws to you over your gaming blog.

So, has your gaming hobbies ever been an issue at work?

 

[Umbran]

Mine have not, but I know people for whom it is an issue.

For example, imagine a person who has a job that requires a government security clearance. Now, imagine pictures of them in live-action RPG costumes getting put up and tagged on Facebook.

 

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

For example, imagine a person who has a job that requires a government security clearance. Now, imagine pictures of them in live-action RPG costumes getting put up and tagged on Facebook.

That is exactly what I am talking about - even having to explain such a thing at work would be problematic.

 

[kalil]

I cant imagine that just practising a geek hobby should pose any issues 2016. Our sub-culture is quite well-known these days. Before I had kids I did play computer games in a way that only allowed for 4-5h sleep per night. That certainly affected my work performance.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Yet it still is problematic for some fields and in certain regions.

 

[delericho]

Yes, but only indirectly, and it was my own damn fault. (Sorry, not going to say any more than that. I work in Fight Club.)

But gaming itself has never been an issue.

 

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

But gaming itself has never been an issue.

Well, like Umbran mentioned above, imagine having to explain to your boss or human resources about these photos of you in cosplay and dealing with that at all. Or you have scheduled to go to some convention on the weekend and now you've got a work assignment for the same weekend. Or a coworker starts being passive aggressive about gaming - knowing you do it - and the boss and/or HR don't give a damn. What then?

 

[kalil]

Well, like Umbran mentioned above, imagine having to explain to your boss or human resources about these photos of you in cosplay and dealing with that at all. Or you have scheduled to go to some convention on the weekend and now you've got a work assignment for the same weekend. Or a coworker starts being passive aggressive about gaming - knowing you do it - and the boss and/or HR don't give a damn. What then?

The exact same things could occur relating to an interest in playing basket ball, no? Maybe I just live in a very modern society but I just dont see it.

Imagine the face of our HR manager when he is summoned to the CEO to explain why he is wasting his own and other peoples time harrasing hard-working and valuable employees about what they do in their spare time

 

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

The exact same things could occur relating to an interest in playing basket ball, no?

If someone strips mostly naked, paints themselves in team colors and goes to a game, gets their photo taken... then it probably does, no matter who they usually behave at work. Further, work is a bloody sport, people will seek any advantage they can, exploit anything they can.

In any case, there are legal and economic ways for employers to track what you do in your off hours and everything you do can and will be considered by your employers, your religion (or lack there of), your politics and your hobby.

I was just wondering if anyone has had this come up, I was asking about real stories.

 

[delericho]

Well, like Umbran mentioned above, imagine...

What then?

I don't doubt that some people have had issues. I'm afraid I can't comment on that - fortunately, gaming has never been an issue for me.