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Ask HN: What do I do if my co-founder is playing video games?

by zhoujeffrey8 on 12/1/21, 11:32 PM with 14 comments

• by armchairhacker on 12/2/21, 2:15 AM

  Challenge him to a game, winner takes the loser's stake in the company.

• by hresvelgr on 12/2/21, 12:36 AM

  They're probably just taking a break. time_sunk != output.

  I "waste" time at work quite often but that's because I know when I am in certain moods of productivity. Forcing myself to work when I'm not in the mental state to do so is like beating a dead horse. Perhaps your co-founder also recognises this.

  Have an honest discussion. Keep your concerns free from judgemental language; for example: "When I see you playing video games it makes me concerned about what your priorities are and I want to have a chat about it." If they're reasonable, they'll be straight with you. If they ascribe any judgement in your words (assuming you use non-judgemental language) then they're probably feeling attacked, in which case, I would de-escalate. The key thing here is empathy. If you handle the situation with decorum, and they do not, then you likely have more problems beyond your co-founder wasting time.

  edit: coworker to co-founder

• by mikece on 12/1/21, 11:36 PM

  Personally, I would ignore it. If they're an over-performer and taking a brain-break then it won't affect their productivity. If they're a slacker anyway then it's a matter for management to solve. The larger problem would be if the person is an under-achieve, management knows, and they do nothing. In this case the video game playing is the symptom of an organization with management issues.

• by phendrenad2 on 12/2/21, 5:49 AM

  In the office? When he/she should be working? During board meetings? At home? Are you peering in the window? Is he/she winning?

• by ssss11 on 12/2/21, 10:53 AM

  If it’s a gaming startup I’d say they’re hard at work testing product! Otherwise I wouldn’t care whether it’s gaming versus _insert any other non-work activity_ unless the work isn’t getting done.

  If it’s not getting done I’d focus the inevitable conversation on that metric, not the gaming.

• by airbreather on 12/2/21, 12:11 AM

  Sounds like you are asking "What if my co-founder doesn't do everything exactly the way I want and I would do".

  If you had asked, what if my co-founder is not meeting his/her obligations, then that is a different story regardless of whether they are playing video games or not.

• by 1cvmask on 12/2/21, 12:11 AM

  Maybe have a vesting schedule for co-founders, and have concrete KPIs and deliverables.

• by readonthegoapp on 12/1/21, 11:50 PM

  As opposed to eating vegan sandwiches?

  Fire him/her!

• by high_byte on 12/2/21, 12:27 AM

  join for some gaming for bonding and change of mood, let off steam if you need and get back to work!

  also sleep well :)

• by yuppie_scum on 12/2/21, 1:33 AM

  Context matters

• by adawg4 on 12/2/21, 3:30 AM

  Make them ceo