So four employees from Fidelity were fired for playing fantasy football?  Is this a joke?

This is wrong on so many fronts.  Fantasy football brings co-workers together. Its not gambling.

Its a social event.  Yes - leagues leagues typically play for a pot of money- similar to bowling.  But are they firing any employees for being in the company bowling league competing for a pool of money funded by the participants of the league?

The game (and I emphasize the word "game") brings employees together and helps lift morale - similar to events Fidelity probably creates for similar desired effect.

If they are against the social benefits employee-organized activities bring, they might as well get rid of the company's basketball league, softball league, and prohibit wedding and baby showers too.

Fantasy Football is not gambling.  Its a competition where skill, effort and collaboration is involved.  Someone in their HR department is a little confused.

I'm sending a copy of my book, "Fantasy Kick, Leverage the Networking Opportunities of Fantasy Football to Give Your Career the Kick it Needs" to their HR department. Hopefully the company will reconsider its position on fantasy football.

-Michael
www.fantasykick.com