For a PRIVATE organization, that is no problem whatsoever. They are free to do whatever the want. It’s not MY money they’re spending.
If you work for a GOVERNMENT AGENCY...ANY government agency...then it’s just not appropriate to be spending taxpayer dollars to goof off.
(Of course, I realize that 70% of government would have to be SHUT DOWN if we went by that rule...)
It’s called a “productivity enhancer” or a “workplace motivator.” Used judiciously, it actually means your money is spent more wisely. The government is no different than any other workplace on what helps motivate. Why do you think soldiers get USO shows? Is that goofing off? (I’m an ex-infantryman, so I understand that the military is different.)
Question: Are you in management? Do you have any experience with the impact these types of activities can have?
(Although, I will say, the fact they lied about it is pretty crappy. It does sound like they were goofing off more than doing something smart in the workplace.)
Regardless, I’m not opposed to *reasonable* use of effective management techniques and productivity multipliers in the federal workforce. To be so black-and-white is actually a *misuse* of federal dollars.