Risk & Business Magazine Branch Benefits Consultants Fall 2016 | Page 25

POKÉMON GO

How To Respond To
Pokémon Go

P

okémon Go is a free-to-play
game for iOS and Android
devices, which has exploded in
popularity among individuals
of all ages since its debut. It has
surpassed Twitter as the most popular app
in the app store, and is edging out huge
names like Netflix and Pandora in terms
of daily usage. It has been called the most
popular mobile game in U.S. history.
WHAT IS POKÉMON GO?
Pokémon Go allows players to capture,
battle and train Pokémon using
augmented reality technology. This
means that rather than sitting inside
on the couch, players must go out and
explore the area around them if they
want to find Pokémon. The game uses
GPS technology and the phone’s camera
to display Pokémon near the player.
Players can gather game items at places
called Pokéstops. Pokéstops are located
at places like coffee shops, music venues,
businesses and historical monuments.
Some Pokéstops were chosen due to
their historical and cultural significance,
while others were chosen based on
geo-tagged photos from Google
and by suggestions from players.
HOW IS POKÉMON GO AFFECTING THE
WORKPLACE?
Given its popularity, it should be no
surprise that some employees are playing
Pokémon Go at work. This distraction
could affect productivity and cause some
employees to be less engaged in their work.
Employers can mitigate Pokémon Go
distractions by taking the following steps:

•

Business Insights

BY: RENA TRODICK,
BRANCH BENEFITS
CONSULTANTS

Review your employee handbook
to make sure you have a policy
prohibiting employees from playing
computer or mobile games at work.
Remind employees of your policy,
and encourage them to play during
lunch or on their breaks instead.

•

Prohibit employees from downloading
the app on company-provided
cellphones, which can open the
device up to malware and other
potential security breaches.

•

Apply policies consistently among
all employees and departments
to avoid claims of favoritism.

ADVANTAGES OF POKÉMON GO
Despite concerns about productivity,
there are many benefits that can be
achieved by embracing Pokémon Go:

•

Wellness—Pokémon Go encourages
players to get moving. They must
walk around in real life to catch
Pokémon, and they can also get
“eggs” from Pokéstops. To hatch
these eggs, players must walk a
certain number of kilometers
(typically 2 km, 5 km or 10 km). To
reap wellness benefits, encourage
employees to use their lunch and
break times for Pokémon exploring.

•

Stress relief—In addition, Pokémon
Go offers employees an outlet for
releasing stress during the day.
By taking a short walk to find
Pokémon, employees can reduce
work-related stress and return
to work with a fresh mind.

•

Team morale—People are continually
sharing their Pokémon Go
experiences on the internet. Translate
that excitement into the workplace
by holding a Pokémon Go activity
during lunch or after work, where a
group of co-workers can get together
to search for Pokémon. This can be
a great way for co-workers to build
relationships while having fun.

perfect opportunity to do so. Some
businesses that have been designated as
Pokéstops or gyms (where players can
battle one another), have seen a spike
in sales. Not sure if your company is a
gym or Pokéstop? Consider installing
the mobile app on your phone and
seeing where the nearest locations are.
In addition, consider using a “lure” to
drive in new business. Lures can be earned
through the game once you reach certain
levels or they can be purchased within the
game’s store. Lures will attract Pokémon—
and therefore players—to a Pokéstop
for 30 minutes. One pizza shop in New
York was able to increase its sales by 75
percent in one weekend by using lures.
While the long-term popularity
of Pokémon Go remains to be
seen, employers should act now to
realize game benefits and minimize
workplace distractions. For more
information on ways to im