Paper short abstract:

When work is no longer seen as an obligation but as a cool, fun, and even addictive game, should we rethink the concept of work? This paper examines London coders who view their jobs as playing the same games they enjoyed since childhood. Yet, are they as fortunate as they or others imagine?

Paper long abstract:

“My job is the best in the world. I get paid to solve puzzles,” a coder remarked during my 15 months of fieldwork in London. Developers frequently describe their work using terms like "game," "play," and "puzzle." The tech industry has adopted a playful culture, with flexible hours, casual environments, and constant "fun" activities designed to make the workplace feel engaging and cool. However, unlike Burawoy’s (1982) study of factory workers, where gamification was used to mask monotonous tasks, coding is inherently stimulating.

Coding has a straightforward goal—producing error-free code—and a clear feedback loop: the program either runs or it doesn’t. This simplicity mirrors the structure of a puzzle, where every piece must fit together logically to arrive at a solution. The well-defined and precise nature of coding creates what Graeber (2016) calls a "utopia of rules," offering coders a sense of freedom, certainty, and control within a structured environment. Yet, this very immersion can be addictive, pushing coders to the brink of burnout.

The rule-bound, absorbing nature of coding creates a distinct work experience that challenges traditional views of labor, blurring the lines between work and play.