The latest craze is Pokémon Go, an app for smartphones that allows people to “catch” Pokémon creatures by integrating the real world with the virtual world. So what do you do if you see one of your employees wandering around your warehouse hunting a mythical animal, or, even worse, a delivery driver decides to multitask and hunt Pokémon while driving? For those who think such scenarios are unlikely, keep in mind Pokémon Go is now on more phones than Tinder and is chasing Twitter as one of the most popular apps in the world. It is a global phenomenon, and, without a doubt, any good size company has employees who are sneaking onto the app during work hours.
So, what is a company to do? Have we really reached the point of crafting a Pokémon policy? Maybe – but the odds are that your company already has policies that fit the bill – what you really need is a reminder. Here are some areas that deserve mention.
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Driving: Playing Pokémon while driving is dangerous. If you have employees who drive on company business, you should already prohibit texting or otherwise using a smartphone while driving.
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Playing Pokémon on Company Time: Can your employees spend hours playing cards or surfing the web at work? Probably not. Pokémon is no different and you have the right to discipline employees who are not productive or who use company time for personal leisure.
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Safety: Pokémon players “chase” animals while looking at their smartphones. This is not so dangerous in a park, but can be a problem in your warehouse or parking lot. Employees should be reminded that they should be alert at all times while on the premises and that, even off the clock, employees should never lose focus on their surroundings or ignore safety rules.
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Phone policy: The Pokémon app allows you to see and “catch” a Pokémon with a phone’s camera, integrating the real world with the Pokémon. This is a neat feature when you take a picture of a cartoon animal in your front yard. Things get a little more complicated when an employee takes a picture of a Pokémon it caught in the conference room and posts the picture on Facebook. Many companies restrict photography in the workplace, and coworkers may not appreciate being part of a coworker’s Pokémon picture. More importantly, a Pokémon hunter walking around the workplace looking at the camera will be disruptive and make some coworkers uncomfortable, fearing they are being recorded.
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Trespassing/Off Duty: If your company is lucky/unlucky, it might be a hot spot for Pokémon (a/k/a “Pokéstop”). This could cause off duty employees to hunt Pokémon on your premises, or even bring their children to work after hours. Depending on your property, this could pose safety issues and also violate policies regarding off duty access or trespassing. You should make clear whether off duty Pokémon hunting is acceptable, especially if employees are bringing children to the workplace.
Although some employees will no doubt push the boundaries of acceptable workplace conduct, most employees will follow the rules. Pokémon will come and go, and the workplace will survive. While it is popular, depending on your company’s culture, consider using Pokémon as a team building exercise, or as a way to promote fitness. The new Pokémon app is a social activity, and more enjoyable in groups. Think about organizing Pokémon hunts after work in a local park. You may be surprised at the participation you get from your employees.
