Pokémon Go Hits The Workplace

The viral mobile game Pokémon Go has invaded the office.

The recently launched app has created a huge obsession with hunting the cartoon characters in the real world.

Employees all over the globe have been sneakily looking at their smartphones and slipping away from their desks, hoping to catch the virtual Pokémon.

One man, Syed Muktasid, has actually given up his career as a graphic designer in order to hunt Pokémon. He has caught dozens of Pokémon and is documenting his journey on Facebook and YouTube.

Most Pokémon “trainers” have stopped short of giving up their jobs, but some are in hot water for playing the game in working hours.

Predictably, many employers are less than ecstatic about the craze and its effect on the workforce.

One angry boss wrote a sharp note, banning his staff from chasing fictional game characters all day.

“Save it for lunch. Otherwise you’ll have plenty of time unemployed to catch them all,” he warned.

Other employers have taken a different approach.

Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, the CEO of tech site The Next Web, has ordered his employees to play the game at work to boost their levels of physical activity.

Wouldn’t you love a boss like that?