Survey: Workers playing on the job

PopCap Games has announced the results of its survey of "white collar" workers, finding that nearly a quarter of them admit to playing games at work.

The company surveyed 7,102 consumers, 40 per cent of whom were identified as "white collar" workers in management, executive management, sales, accounting, medical, technical, consulting or administrative positions. Extrapolating from this sample, the survey suggests that as many as 80 million white collar workers play casual games.

âIt's not surprising that today's business professionals are casual video game users,â said Carly Drum, managing director of Drum Associates, an executive recruitment firm.

âThe face of today's executive workforce is definitely changing: weâre seeing employees who are much more technologically savvy and familiar with all forms of new media from social networking to blogging and beyond," Drum said. "So, it's natural that some business executives would also look to casual videogames that they can play on their PC, mobile phone or BlackBerry during a work break, as a way to quickly relax and recharge their batteries, so to speak.â

Of all 2,842 white collar workers surveyed, 98 per cent said they played casual games at home and 24 per cent said they played during work hours. Of these gamers, 65 per cent indicated they earn USD 50,000 or more in annual income, 22 per cent said they earned USD 100,000 or more per year, and 58 per cent indicated they had a college degree.

Age-wise, 91 per cent of white collar gamers are 30 or older, 68 per cent are 40 or older, and 39 per cent are 50 or older.

The survey also found that "senior executives" such as CEOs, CFOs, presidents and other C-level executives played casual games more frequently, including playing more often at work.

Of those who admitted playing casual games at work, 84 per cent said they felt more relaxed and less stressed out, and 52 per cent said they felt more confident, more energetic, more productive, and/or more mentally focused after playing.