Logitech Gives 7,000 Employees a Paid Day to Play Games

The company said the initiative is the first gaming day in its history. Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber said it was time to challenge the stereotype that gaming wastes time, arguing that engagement in play can support performance at work.

Logitech G will mark the occasion with a streaming event on November 19 at Logitech’s Americas headquarters in San Jose. Robin Piispanen, Logitech G’s general manager and a former competitive gamer, will host. The company said employees can play at the office, which will be turned into a gaming lounge for the event. Faber plans to play Grand Theft Auto VI, which is scheduled for release that day. She told Fortune she was ready for “some fun and (friendly) competition.”

Employees can choose any game, with examples cited by Piispanen including GTA VI, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 and Forza. He said skills developed in games can carry over to work and problem-solving. Chief people officer Elaine Laird said dedicated time to decompress and play can help employees return with clearer focus, renewed energy and fresh approaches to complex challenges.

Logitech cited findings from its research in support of the initiative. In its recent Ctrl Tomorrow study, 81% of gamers said playing helps build real-world confidence and improve work performance. A separate company study conducted in August found that 98.8% of respondents said gaming skills were directly connected to workplace abilities such as problem-solving.