Publications

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The 2010 World Cup is nearly upon us. On 11 June 2010, the tournament will kick off in South Africa to the delight of football fans across the globe. Thirty two countries are taking part and football fever is expected to once again grip the UK. Nearly three million tickets have been sold worldwide to those lucky enough to watch the matches live. For everyone else, viewing will have to take place online or through broadcast media. With matches scheduled at different times throughout the tournament, many football enthusiasts will find that key games coincide with their working hours. Businesses need to be prepared for the impact of this and determine how best to manage their workforce for the good of both the business and employee relations.

In May 2010, DLA Piper conducted a survey of senior business decision makers and human resources professionals to gauge the impact of the World Cup on the UK's workforce. The survey looked into what extent businesses are willing to offer flexibility to employees to watch matches, and whether businesses are reviewing their policies or issuing guidance to staff in advance of the World Cup as a way of managing potential issues such as internet usage, unauthorised absence and racial banter.

The survey reveals that a significant proportion of businesses are not intending to review any of their policies and procedures to address potential issues arising from the World Cup. This may mean that employers are unprepared to face potential issues or think they have robust enough systems in place already. However, a large number of employers are intending to allow their employees some flexibility to watch matches, with the highest percentage allowing staff to leave early, and allowing the matches to be viewed on communal televisions.

With a few days to go before kick off, businesses may need to think more carefully about their approach to the beautiful game, and the precedent their approach to the World Cup may set for future sporting events, such as Wimbledon and the 2012 Olympics. Effective management of staff during a major sporting event has the potential to raise staff goodwill to new heights and, at a time when economic pressures are being faced by all employers, this can only be a positive result for businesses.