GTA 6 Release Sparks Workplace Leave Warnings in Australia and New Zealand
- Australians and New Zealanders will be the first gamers in the world to play the R-rated video game Grand Theft Auto VI, prompting warnings that employees might skip...
- Game developer Rockstar Games is planning a staggered, late-night, global release on November 19, rather than a simultaneous launch.
- Grand Theft Auto VI has already generated an estimated US$600 million in pre-sales revenue one month before its release.
Australians and New Zealanders will be the first gamers in the world to play the R-rated video game Grand Theft Auto VI, prompting warnings that employees might skip work on November 20.
Staggered Global Launch Timing
Game developer Rockstar Games is planning a staggered, late-night, global release on November 19, rather than a simultaneous launch. This rollout places gamers across the Tasman hours ahead of other regions, including Miami in the United States, which inspired the game’s Vice City setting.
Grand Theft Auto VI has already generated an estimated US$600 million in pre-sales revenue one month before its release. The title is widely forecast to set a new record for multi-billion-dollar sales worldwide.
Workplace Leave Rules in Australia and New Zealand
Social media platforms filled with videos and posts about people planning absences for November 20. Australia’s Fair Work Ombudsman released a themed post anticipating extra unpaid leave requests.
Under Australia’s Fair Work Act, employees accrue different types of leave for specific circumstances. Annual leave can be taken for any reason with employer agreement and sufficient accrued balance. Paid personal leave is restricted to illness, injury, or family emergencies, meaning gaming does not qualify. Unpaid leave carries no general right except for specific activities like jury duty or emergency services.
In New Zealand, accrued annual leave can be used for any purpose, and employers cannot unreasonably refuse requests. Employees without sufficient leave can request annual leave in advance by agreement. Using sick leave for gaming risks disciplinary action or dismissal, while wellbeing leave depends on specific contractual wording.