GAMIFICAÇÃO NO AMBIENTE DE TRABALHO:

FERRAMENTA DE MOTIVAÇÃO OU NOVA PRESSÃO SOBRE O TRABALHADOR?

Abstract

Gamification, by incorporating game elements into work activities, has emerged as a management strategy to increase engagement and productivity. Far from being merely a playful resource, this technique aims to align worker behavior with organizational objectives through challenges, goals, and rewards. However, its adoption raises the central question of the extent to which this tool can become a new form of pressure and excessive control over workers. This study aims to generally analyze the potential and risks of gamification in the context of labor relations, understanding how the technique influences behavior and identifying its ethical and legal limits. The adopted methodology is qualitative research, based on a critical bibliographic and documentary analysis of literature and recent labor jurisprudence. The research reveals that while gamification can generate genuine motivation, its improper implementation can intensify competitiveness, overload, and stress, reinforcing subtle forms of exploitation. The legal analysis highlights the role of Labor Law in protecting worker dignity and health, showing, through jurisprudence, that gamification can be a factor in characterizing subordination by algorithm. It is concluded that the success of gamification depends on the balance between incentive and protection, requiring regulation and inspection to ensure a work environment that is productive, but also fair and healthy.