PC games workers play // Employers crack down on distractions FINAL Edition

• Published in: USA today (Arlington, Va.)
• Main Author: Smith, Joel J
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: McLean, Va USA Today, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc 10.01.1995
• ISSN: 0734-7456

The Royal Oak, Mich., psychologist says he became obsessed with the game, and at one point spent hours each day playing instead of working. He said until he got his computer game habit under control, it hurt his concentration and his business. The governor of Virginia and top officials of the U.S. Labor Department recently ordered all games removed from government PCs. A memo from Virginia Gov. George Allen called game-playing "nonproductive and nonefficient" and said "time spent by employees playing such games should be considered an improper use of taxpayer funds." West Virginia has no statewide policy. But workers in the state Department of Tax and Revenue are forbidden to play computer games in the office. Ann Garcelon, spokeswoman for West Virginia's Department of Health and Human Resources, said the department has no official policy on game playing. She said supervisors are responsible for keeping an eye on workers.