Is your business prepared for the World Cup?
With 26.5million UK viewers tuning into the 2018 World Cup, and 27.4m watching the BBC coverage of the Women’s Euro 2022 across the tournament, are you prepared for staff absences during the 2022 World Cup?
Will your business be making arrangements and preparations to ensure that productivity isn’t disrupted over the course of the competition?
The World Cup will last 4 weeks from 20th November until 18th December.
Matches during working hours could lead to workers calling in sick:
- England’s first match will be kicking off at 1pm on Monday 21st November, potentially affecting workers on days and afters shifts
- England’s 2nd & 3rd matches, on Friday 25th & Tuesday 29th November kick off at 7pm, potentially affecting afters and night shift workers
- England made it to the 3rd place play off in the World Cup 2018
- England made it to the final of the Euro 2020
- As well as calling in sick, employees are more likely to check social media, be distracted by news updates and gossiping with colleagues
Possible solutions:
- Can you have screens in the workplace showing the games? It may be better to have slightly distracted staff than none at all!
- Temporary staff can reduce pressure on match days
- Prepare for an increase in absence requests; and sickness leave if these are denied!
- Set out a policy for those working from home ahead of time
- Allow employees to wear football shirts
- Create a fantasy football league
- Create a sweepstake
- Decorate the workplace with flags
- Move/extend breaks to allow employees to watch some/all of the game
- If watching the game isn’t possible, could they listen to coverage over the radio?
“Depending on the work environment and the likely level of interest among staff, then taking some time out together to watch the World Cup could be an enjoyable team building exercise, and could boost morale” Danielle Parson, Employment Partner at Irwin Mitchell (source)
If you’d like to discuss how temporary staff can be used to ease the pressure, please contact your local Essential Recruitment office:
