They say money can’t buy happiness, but whoever said that clearly didn’t own a 32in widescreen gaming monitor with 120Hz refresh rate and RGB lighting. It's impossible to be sad with a behemoth of cutting edge display technology sitting on your desk, and more importantly, it's (probably) better for your productivity, too.
Sadly, not everyone shares this enlightened view. Corporate budget-holders in particular seem to be strangely opposed to the idea of dropping several hundred pounds on gaming displays for staff, arguing that it's somehow a 'waste of business resources' – if you can imagine such a thing.
However, all employees should have access to the right equipment needed to most effectively do their jobs, and with this in mind, I've created a handy form letter that you can send to your manager, explaining why it's vital that the company buys you a high-performance gaming screen for your remote working setup. Simply delete as appropriate, send it off to your boss, and thank me later.
Hi [insert manager’s name here],
Hope you and the [husband/wife/dog] are doing well! Did you catch the [insert preferred team] game at the weekend? And how about this weather?
It’s hard to believe we’ve been working from home for almost a year, isn’t it? I know it’s been a challenging period for all of us, and I just wanted to thank you for all the support you’ve given me and the rest of the team while we deal with the changes. As we move into 2021, however, I feel that there are some optimisations that could be made to my remote working equipment in order to improve my productivity and the quality of my output.
As a [developer/data analyst/finance professional], the vast majority of my workday involves sitting in front of a screen, and it’s therefore vital that I be supplied with a high-performance gaming monitor in order to effectively boost my performance. This may sound like a needlessly extravagant luxury, but as you’ll see, it’s actually an essential work tool that will accelerate the value I’m able to bring to the business.
Firstly, the widescreen aspect ratio offered by gaming monitors means that I’ll be able to view more [lines of code/database queries/spreadsheet rows] at once, instantly increasing my productivity. A display with more screen real estate is indispensable for my role; you get a document up on that baby, and you are seriously looking at that document.
Moreover, gaming monitors typically offer higher resolutions than boring, everyday screens - so during our [weekly/daily/hourly] video meetings, you’re guaranteed to be looking your best, and I’ll be able to see your [office/kitchen/living room] in glorious high-definition. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s deeply unfair for your lovely home to be presented as a blurry, pixelated mess.
Monitor quality is about more than just pixel counts and resolutions, though. Colour accuracy is very important to me, as I want to ensure that my [UI designs/dashboards/TPS report cover sheets] are looking the best they possibly can. This is another area where gaming monitors have the edge over traditional office displays; it might seem expensive, but it’s considerably cheaper than a professional-level monitor with built-in colour calibration so really, the question is can you afford not to?
Of course, productivity is all well and good, but personal wellbeing is equally important. I know our company has stated its strong commitment to the health and wellness of its employees, and the health benefits of gaming equipment speak for themselves. Monitors with a high refresh rate are commonly used by professional gamers to improve reaction times, but they’re also believed to be better at reducing eye-strain during long periods of computer use than those without, and I fear that being unable to see due to chronic eye strain will severely hamper my long-term effectiveness as a member of the team. In addition, if a 120Hz screen can make competitive gamers more accurate and efficient at Counter-Strike, then I see no logical reason why it can’t have similar benefits for my work.
Speaking of long periods of computer use, you’ll no doubt have noticed that I’ve been putting in more hours than usual over the last year. This is partly due to the removal of my daily commute, but it’s also because it’s easier to work for long stretches if you’re in a comfortable environment. Imagine, then, how much more time I’d be able to put in if I had a monitor that I could tilt, pivot and adjust to the ideal angle for maximum comfort. If I had a more comfortable gaming chair, I might even start enjoying all the work I have to do on evenings and weekends – but that’s a matter for another email.
There are also benefits for my mental wellbeing. Being able to use my shiny new monitor for after-hours gaming will allow me to effectively switch off at the end of the day, preventing burnout and making me happier and more well-rested – and as you’re undoubtedly aware, a happy employee is a productive employee.
I’m confident that this email has thoroughly demonstrated the necessity of augmenting my home working equipment with a high-performance monitor – not just for my own mental health and physical wellbeing, but for the good of the department and the company as a whole. As a caring, considerate and pragmatic employer, I’m sure that you’ll share my views. I’ve attached a list of the required specifications for my new screen; please have it shipped directly to [insert address here].
Thanks in advance,
[Name]
Editor’s note: IT Pro takes no responsibility for any terminations, demotions or stern talkings-to as a result of sending this email to any management personnel living or dead.
