World Cup: Staff hangovers a worry

03 June 2010

Management
Written by Gary   
Tuesday, 01 June 2010

FSB offers legal advice concerning the World Cup and absenteeism.

With the World Cup approaching, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Abbey Legal Protection have produced guidance on how small firms can avoid employment issues during this high-profile month long tournament.

As many workers and their bosses will want to watch and enjoy the World Cup, it is vital that both are on the ball about issues relating to advance requests for time off, and that any unplanned absences taken are dealt with urgently.
 
The timings of the England matches lend themselves very well to UK working patterns. However, the FSB is concerned that as England progresses working fans may get over exuberant and staff absence due to hangovers will follow.
 
The FSB advice falls into two distinct categories:
 
  • Advice concerning employees who have asked in advance for time off to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup
 
  • Advice concerning what to do with those employees who phone in sick or simply fail to turn up for work on match or post-match days
 
 Mike Cherry, Policy Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said:
 
“The World Cup only comes round every four years so we should all be able to enjoy it as much as possible. Employers need to start engaging with their staff to make sure they put plans in place to cater for those employees that want to watch the football, as well as those that don’t and might want to work overtime during this period.
 
“Both employers and their staff need to look at celebrating the World Cup realistically. Employers need to be aware of the impact that unplanned absence could have on their ability to trade and employees need to know that throwing a sickie rather than asking for time off could result in disciplinary procedures.
 
“The advice in this guidance will enable firms to follow their team with no adverse impact on the business or employment.  Being prepared will let everyone benefit fully from the tournament and ultimately enjoy it.
 
“Sorting out these issues before the first game kicks off means everyone can relax and enjoy the matches, while making sure jobs still get done in the workplace. Firms and their staff can reap the reward of the feel good factor that accompanies the World Cup without any disputes dampening the party atmosphere.”
 

Tips from the guidance include:

 
  • Agreeing with employees that they can take the relevant days or half-days off as part of their annual leave entitlement in the usual way
 
  • Granting employees special unpaid leave
 
  • Where possible, putting in place  a flexible working system on match days so that staff can watch the matches by, for example, granting a longer break or allowing them to come into work later or leave earlier and make the time up
 
  • Allowing staff to listen to the radio or watch the television at work.  You could allow short breaks at regular intervals or you could have the radio or television on in the background
 
  • Not forgetting that not everyone supports England and not all football fans are male.  There are 32 teams participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and football has a strong female following
 
  • Not discriminating when deciding which matches to grant time off and not favouring your male employees over your female employees
 
  • Putting in place a requirement that employees who phone in sick on key match days (or post-match days) provide medical evidence of their sickness absence, for example, some proof that they visited their GP or a doctor’s certificate
 
  • Putting in place a requirement that employees who are off sick during the 2010 FIFA World Cup period must notify their absence to a specified person. This will help make your employees aware that you are closely monitoring sickness absence during this period
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