Australian Workers Warned Against Taking 'Sickies' for GTA 6 Launch

Fair Work Australia has issued a warning to employees across the country, advising them against taking time off work to play the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) video game. The agency clarified that personal leave entitlements are reserved for illness, injury, or caring for a family member, and not for leisure activities like gaming.

The new installment of the popular game is set to launch globally on November 19, marking a 13-year wait since the last major release. This long anticipation has led to a notable surge in annual leave requests around the launch date, with some employees reportedly considering calling in sick to play. Fair Work officials emphasized that personal leave, whether paid or unpaid, is intended for genuine personal needs, such as sickness or injury, or to care for an ill family member. They specifically noted that a video game, even one with significant nostalgic value, does not meet these criteria.

While some employees have successfully secured approved annual leave for the launch, ranging from a few days to two weeks, others have found their requests flagged due to the unusual concentration of time-off requests around November 19. Some employers have begun questioning the reasons behind these requests, with HR departments becoming aware of the connection to the GTA 6 release. Discussions on online forums reveal dilemmas faced by employees who applied for leave, with some concerned about the implications of taking time off for a video game.

Employees have debated strategies for requesting leave, with some suggesting that applying for leave on November 20 might be more practical, as the game is scheduled for release at 4 p.m. AEDT on November 19. Others have advised waiting longer, anticipating potential server issues and bugs common with major game launches, with one suggestion being to take time off from November 27 onwards to avoid initial launch problems.

Despite the warnings, many gamers have expressed excitement over their approved leave, looking forward to dedicating time to the new release. The situation highlights the strong anticipation surrounding GTA 6, with employees balancing their professional responsibilities against their enthusiasm for the game.