What is your policy on Nerf Guns being used at work?

Ha! Liking the sound of your workplace!

On a more practical front, what is the purpose of using Nerf guns and do they actually support that purpose, are they inclusive for everyone? Will they annoy or alienate people?

H&S would be an interesting risk assessment - what type of guns are being considered, where are they to be used, are they for shooting at targets, or each other, who will be using them, protective equipment like goggles...

As a starting point? :)

Hi Angela,

I had to google this one! I'd love to know why you are asking, but off the top of my head my response would depend on the context - is it a one-off or ongoing thing, and what's the environment like? Do clients visit? I'd consider if the purpose of introducing them (and perceived benefits) outweighed the following risks/drawbacks:

- distracting to those working (at best annoying, at worst, adversely impacting productivity)
- appears unprofessional to staff and visitors
- potentially harmful (what if fired into someone's eye?). Having never used one, I'm not sure about the extent to which this is a concern...
- sends a message to staff that playing around at work is ok (again, depends on whether this is a one off or not...and also on your cultural context)

Personally, I can imagine a place for them at a one-off fun event, but other than that it sounds like quite an annoying prospect!

Laura

Hi Angela,
I think I might have missed something, so I have to ask - why would you need to use a Nerf Gun at work?

Hi Angela - I like how you've posted this under 'Future Challenges at Work' ;)

Is this something that has been encouraged by the leadership team / founders?

I guess I'd rather leave if that was the culture they wanted to nurture. Don't much like the idea of a projectile knocking my cafe latte over my keyboard, etc.

Angela opened two threads. I'm merged them.

As I was hit in the eye with one of the projectiles at a family summer party last year, I can confirm that it hurt a lot but luckily there was no lasting damage. My response to such a request would be emphatically NO. Horseplay where people may be injured has no place at work and Nerf Guns are for children. And children should learn early (as my grandson did) that you never point a weapon at someone unless you intend to hurt them and are prepared to accept the consequences.

Great question: A: fun thing to do at work, changing things up i.e -energy, thought processes, getting other attention, other start ups in the IT sector do it?

My son's got a massive collection - he's 11! Some boys never grow up - I'm assuming it's mainly 'boys' who'd want to bring these into the office? They are a pain - even at home. I'm forever saying 'take them outside!' If you shoot someone at close contact not only do you very easily run the risk of having someone's eye out you also hear a loud noise. Plus you are forever picking up the foam bullets. What boy ever tidies up eh? On the plus side they could be fun if you had a nice large padded room to play in and wanted to settle some inter-departmental 'issues' ;)

Usage -spontaneous and yes to customer / supplier visits on site.

I just shared your question with a friend and it seems they have one in his office! His reaction was 'it's going to take someone's eye out one day'. He works in media.