Working Hard Pays Off... Is the 'Gamification of Labor' Coming? [Tech Talk by Im Ju-hyung]

Introduction of 'Gamification' to Motivate Workers
Scoring Work Progress and Providing Rewards
Piloted by Some Tech Companies like US Amazon
Concerns Over Potential Worker Surveillance
Experts Say Work Environment Should Also Consider Quality of Labor

The British science fiction drama "Black Mirror," depicting workers in a virtual future world where the "gamification of labor" has become commonplace / Photo by Internet homepage capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] #A future factory-style dormitory. Workers are given virtual characters modeled after themselves and nurture these characters as if playing an online game. The daily wages are paid in so-called 'game money,' and decorating their characters with this game money is the only pleasure for the workers.

This story is from an episode of the famous British sci-fi drama 'Black Mirror,' which satirizes the increasingly intense competition in modern society. In particular, the scene where workers receive virtual currency to decorate their game characters as a reward for labor was described by viewers as "chilling."

However, this kind of 'gamification of labor' is also happening in reality. Companies adopting gamification expect it to increase labor productivity, but some express concerns that it may instead worsen working conditions.

Gamification refers to the method of incorporating game elements into ordinary environments to increase immersion. For example, introducing problem-solving games into educational programs to enhance students' understanding.

Recently, attempts to introduce gamification into labor have been increasing. According to a report by the US IT media 'The Information' on the 15th (local time), Amazon, the world's largest logistics company, has piloted a 'gamification program' at 40 logistics centers in the United States.

The gamification program is implemented for workers who voluntarily apply, and they will simultaneously play a kind of 'mini-game' while performing their tasks.

Inside view of Amazon logistics center / Photo by Yonhap News

A representative example of the mini-game is called 'Missionracer,' where logistics center workers race in virtual sports cars. The logistics centers use various sensors and software to collect data on the participating workers' task progress, walking speed, and working hours to increase or decrease the 'speed' of the cars. In other words, the harder they work, the faster their cars run, encouraging them to overtake other competitors.

Amazon expects to improve work efficiency without increasing labor costs through this gamification. In fact, workers who win the game receive game money as a reward, not real money. This game money is used to decorate their virtual characters or purchase so-called 'pets' like cats and dinosaurs.

The reactions of logistics center workers participating in the pilot project have mostly been positive. According to 'The Information,' workers said that the mini-games helped make the exhausting and repetitive logistics work environment more pleasant.

Kent Hollenbeck, an Amazon spokesperson, also stated, "All workers participating in the project responded that they enjoyed the game," emphasizing, "Participation in the game is entirely the worker's personal choice, so if necessary, they can stop playing and switch back to regular work."

However, some express concerns that gamification of labor could make working conditions harsher. The task progress required to play the game is essentially data collected by monitoring every move of the workers, and if this gamification spreads across society, such as logistics centers and offices, it could lead to 'worker surveillance.'

Cases of worker monitoring using closed-circuit television (CCTV), software, and detection sensors are gradually increasing. / Photo by Yonhap News

The issue of worker surveillance has already become commonplace in many companies. According to a report released in September last year by the US think tank 'Open Markets Institute,' US e-commerce companies have secretly installed various software, sensors, and scanners inside warehouses to monitor workers in order to optimize warehouse operations. Through this, these companies obtained sensitive personal information of workers and could urge them to work harder.

This problem has also been found domestically. According to a report on 'Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Labor Surveillance' released by the civic group 'Workplace Bullying 119' in July last year, among 1,588 verified workplace harassment reports received that year, 181 cases (11.4%) involved surveillance using CCTV and similar devices.

There have been serious cases where intense worker surveillance caused stress, panic disorders, or workers suffering from cystitis due to being unable to use the restroom properly.

Experts suggest that before further computerization and mechanization of labor, a fundamental reflection on workers' health is necessary.

Lee Sang-yoon, head of the Labor Health Solidarity, wrote in an article for the civic group 'People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy' in July last year, "Behind the rhetoric of innovation in online commerce, platform industries, and distribution lies hidden labor," pointing out, "Workers are literally being 'ground down' to keep the system running."

He added, "A fundamental transition to a sustainable logistics industry that considers the quality of labor is necessary," urging, "There is no reason why companies accumulating high profits cannot achieve this."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.