The World Cup is about to kick off, but for thousands of UK workers, it's a nightmare. England's match against Mexico will get underway at 1am on Monday morning, leaving many football enthusiasts facing an all-nighter before the start of the working day. With the game potentially dragging on until almost 4am if it goes to penalties, those who can't resist the call of duty from afar may find themselves sleep-deprived and struggling to get to work on time.
But do employees have any rights when it comes to requesting time off or dealing with the aftermath of a late-night match? Not quite, according to Nicole Humphreys, partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter solicitors. "There's no automatic right to request time off at short notice for a football match," she explains. Employers' holiday booking policies typically dictate procedures, and where there's no specific policy in place, employees are expected to give notice that's at least twice the length of the time they want off.
And what about those who decide to 'pull a sickie' after a late night of football-watching? While a doctor's note isn't required for a single day's absence, employees may need to self-certify their illness and provide details. But beware: Joanne Moseley, legal director at Irwin Mitchell, warns that employers can investigate if they suspect an absence is not genuinely due to illness. Discrepancies between the stated reason for absence and observable behaviour – like social media posts showing someone watching the match in a pub – could lead to disciplinary proceedings if a satisfactory explanation isn't provided.
For those who do make it to work on Monday but arrive late, this could be classified as an unauthorised absence unless prior arrangements have been made with their employer. While employers typically only take disciplinary action for repeated lateness, it remains at their discretion. But there's some good news for fans: should England progress, subsequent matches are scheduled at more accommodating times, alleviating concerns about future early morning kick-offs.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is calling on employers to show some understanding and flexibility on Monday. Paul Nowak, the TUC General Secretary, urges businesses to consider options like allowing staff a later start or facilitating working from home. The TUC suggests that such flexibility could boost morale, motivation, and ultimately productivity – and remind employers not to forget about non-football fans in their decision-making.