What if I told you that the secret to boosting productivity at work might just lie within... Candy Crush Saga? Yes, you read that right.
New research conducted by King, the parent company of Candy Crush Saga, has found that playing games during work hours could potentially make employees more productive.
Surprised? So was I.
According to the study, more than two-thirds (69%) of office workers play games on their phones during working hours. And about a third of them claim it helps them refocus (34%) or de-stress (30%).
Up to 70% of Gen Z workers are concerned about their boss's perception. Yet, the data suggests that regular breaks, including those spent gaming, could be beneficial for productivity.
Only around 37% of office workers take regular breaks, and a mere 59% of Boomer workers take their full lunch break. Compare this with 81% of Gen Z workers taking their full break, and you start to see a pattern.
Now, I'm not suggesting we all become professional Candy Crush players (although how fun would that be?), but this research does highlight the need for different working methods. A career expert, quoted in the study, rightly points out that us humans cannot always give 100% effort. We need time to relax and recharge. And if a quick game of Candy Crush does the trick, why not?
So, perhaps it's time to rethink our approach to breaks and productivity? Would you encourage this for your team or is this just a biased study to push more players?