The event might not be taking place in the UK, but it’s still likely to cause a shift in behaviour among the UK workforce. Whether they stay at home to watch it on television, attend a live match, or need a day off after staying up late to watch it – sports have a significant impact on attendance at work.
Below are five tips for businesses to curb absenteeism and manage productivity throughout the World Cup
1. Turn unplanned absences into planned ones – Companies with football fans among their workforce, could see an increase in unplanned absences around the World Cup. So it’s important to turn unplanned absences into planned absences. This means creating policies and a company culture that will encourage and support employees for requesting time off beforehand.
2. Offer flexibility – Organisations could offer flexible work hours when it’s feasible. Being an employer of choice often comes down to not necessarily being the employer that pays the most, but the employer that gives employees autonomy, treats employees like human beings who have lives outside the office and is willing to make accommodations in the form of paid time off, flexible work hours, and working from home where it’s supportable.
3. Get in on the fun – Rather than accept the high level of absenteeism around such events, employers can positively channel excitement by asking the staff canteen to serve game-day food like hotdogs, pizza or pies. Or they can tap into the excitement of the event by screening matches in the workplace, perhaps by turning conference rooms into screening rooms or allowing the radio on in the background if it’s not too disruptive.
4. Plan accordingly – Don’t plan to kick off any big, bold initiatives for a morning after a big sporting event, especially if it’s a late event. Instead, organisations should do their research beforehand and pick a more suitable date.
5. Don’t forget the minority – Remember that not all staff like football and might be annoyed at concessions given to football fans, particularly if they feel that they are left doing the lion’s share of the work.