A North East employment law expert is advising regional firms to keep their eye on the ball during the World Cup - or risk absence and productivity issues.
Sarah Hall, a partner in the employment law team at Hay & Kilner in Newcastle, is recommending that North East managers make sure their employees know where they stand when it comes to workplace productivity, performance and attendance during the month-long tournament.
Previous tournaments have seen a rise in absenteeism during matches, or on the mornings after them, as football fans have prioritised the World Cup over the workplace.
And with England’s first group match against Iran kicking off at 1pm on Monday 21 November, Sarah Hall is urging employers to make sure their workers know where they stand well before the big day.
She says: “Major sporting events like the World Cup can really bring a workplace together in shared enthusiasm for everything they entail, but there are of course things employers need to consider in advance of the big kick-off that could have a serious impact on their staff’s productivity and performance.
“England’s first group match is being played on a Monday lunchtime, which many people will doubtless want to watch somewhere live, while their third one is on a Tuesday evening, so any fans choosing to celebrate an England victory into the night may not be in the ideal shape at work the next morning.
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