BrightHR: UK staff to take 83,000 days off for GTA VI
BrightHR estimates the leave will cost employers about 12.4 million pounds, with 3.14 million pounds falling on release day alone.
UK workers are expected to register about 83,000 days of leave for Grand Theft Auto VI in November and December, according to an analysis by HR software company BrightHR reported by inven.co.kr. At 150 pounds per leave day, the company puts the cost to employers at about 12.4 million pounds.
BrightHR based the estimate on attendance data from 70,000 UK companies covering more than 1.2 million employees. Leave on the release day, 19 November, is estimated at 3.14 million pounds.
On that date, GTA accounts for close to 5% of leave reasons, ahead of honeymoons and graduations. Leave taken on Thursday 19 November is 7.89% higher than the previous Thursday, compared with 2.51% a year earlier.
BrightHR CEO Alan Price said taking leave to play a game is as legitimate as leave for a football match, concert or bachelor party. Outside the UK, the effect is smaller: for BrightHR clients in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, GTA made up 2% of release-day leave reasons, and no Canadian employee mentioned GTA.
The Greensboro Police Department in North Carolina posted on X on 6 November that GTA6 should come out quickly so everyone stays home; the post passed 1 million views. Rockstar began digital pre-downloads on 10 November, with file size up to 212GB depending on the device, and physical packages with a code go on sale in stores from 12 November. Grand Theft Auto VI releases on 19 November for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Generational split
In previous generations, GTA ranked in the top 5 leave reasons for millennials on 19 November, 6th for Gen Z and 9th for Gen X, and never appeared for baby boomers.
Quick answers
When does Grand Theft Auto VI release?
Grand Theft Auto VI releases on 19 November for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
How many UK leave days is GTA VI expected to cause?
BrightHR estimates about 83,000 days of leave will be registered for GTA reasons in November and December, at a cost of about 12.4 million pounds.
Can I pre-download Grand Theft Auto VI?
Rockstar began digital pre-downloads on 10 November, with file size up to 212GB depending on the device. Physical packages with a code go on sale in stores from 12 November.