Comments on: I Wonder Why They Try To Motivate People With These…

By: Juuso

Juuso — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:40:57 +0000

True, yet another good point. Thanks Katherine.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:41:13 +0000

Also there’s the other thing, if a company has pool tables or whatever it might be the only sign to an outside observer that the company really cares about the employees and that it promotes good working conditions.

Or it might be false advertising, simply a bribe to the employees when the working conditions really suck.

By: Juuso

Juuso — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:54:20 +0000

Hmm.

Good points.

By: Jake Birkett

Jake Birkett — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:09:01 +0000

We play Super Smash Bros (4 player) at BFG at least once a day. It’s a great fun break just to get you out of your chair and doing something else. It also boosts the team spirit. We also have bean bags to chill out in or for meetings, and we have a table hockey game too (hopefully we’ll get a pool table when our next game come out and totally rock).

The job is great fun but still has some admin like all jobs. However, variation and an occasional change of environment is cool. I think that heading out for lunch is healthy actually so you can focus on eating and socialising away from your desk, especially when it’s sunny outside, but I don’t think I do this enough.

By: Robert Dowling

Robert Dowling — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:47:34 +0000

I think it’s a good idea to have some ‘toys’ in the workplace. No matter how good a job is, you’re doing it every day for a least 8 hours. Especially in positions like code and art which require constant brain activity, a game like table tennis can help you reboot, or just get away from the screen for a moment.
I’ve worked in places that have these little quirks (like pool tables), found we rarely played them in work time, they were more of a social spot during lunch and after hours. It actually kept more people in the building rather than heading out for lunch (which the company preferred).

By: Tyler

Tyler — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:04:07 +0000

I think have other activities is a good idea. I don’t know if I’m like most people, but I can’t do one thing for too long. Even though I enjoy programming I regularly take a break and do something else. Having a physical activity like tennis is better in my opinion than sitting in a chair even longer, playing online games.

By: Derek Rumpler

Derek Rumpler — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:04:41 +0000

I kind of disagree. Sometimes when things get really hectic, its nice to take a breather. In fact, I would say it does more harm than good not to recharge your mental batteries from time to time with some relaxation.

Although there was one game company I could not take seriously, because it seemed that was all they were about. It took them 12 years (I’m not talking about 3D Realms, BTW) for them to get as far as the beta stage of the game. They came to an anime con and while they were fun to be around, all they did was laugh, joke and goof off. I asked them, “How do you get things done?” The president of the company said, “By coming in late at night.”

I’m surprised they lasted this long.