Acumen News & Events

25 May 2010

How to manage World Cup fever in your office

Managine employees suffering football fever!

The World Cup is nearly upon us and its imminent arrival is likely to bring with it the inevitable difficulties of employees wanting to spend time following ‘the game’ rather than working in the office. Employers must make a clear decision on how best to manage the situation, deciding what their business needs are and how flexible they can be over the course of the World Cup in allowing employees to support their Team.

How to manage employee requests for time off

- Invest in a schedule of all the games taking place over the course of the World Cup. Having a list of fixtures to hand will help you plan your staffing needs in advance where you intend to allow employees to take time off. Where employees absence is not allowed a sound knowledge of what is happening and when will help you spot any correlation between the games and sudden illness.

- Any concessions your Company makes for time off are ENTIRELY at your discretion. Employees do not have a right to time off to watch the football, it is not a religion and there is no right to request flexible working as leave would not be for the purpose of looking after children.

How to manage disruption in the workplace

- Some staff will find ways to watch the football whether or not they are in the office. Save yourself time and money and consider allowing employees to take either unpaid leave or use up their holiday entitlement to watch certain matches.

- Remind employees that it is NOT acceptable to return to work under the influence of alcohol if they are intending to drink during the games and then come back to the office.

- Remind employees that they are expected to carry out work for which they are paid and that failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. Be on the lookout for staff who attempt to follow the games over the internet, using either the Company resources or mobile phones whilst at work and act accordingly.