As England prepares for its first Fifa World Cup match against Iran, many football fans will be wondering how they can watch the game during work hours. Due to the time difference with Qatar, where the event is taking place, kick-off times in the UK will vary between 10am and 7pm, meaning matches will sometimes be shown during the working day.
But what are the rules around watching the World Cup at work? UK workplace advice organisation Acas is urging bosses in Bristol to set out clear guidelines to staff who might want to keep up to date with matches during working hours to stop potential issues from arising.
Many workers may want to book time off to watch the games, while others will want to follow the matches online. Acas is advising Bristol bosses to make sure they have agreements in place that cover requests for time off, sickness absence, website use during working hours and watching television during the day.
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Acas South West area director Mike Fenn said: “The World Cup is an exciting event for many football fans, but staff should avoid getting a red card for unreasonable demands or behaviour in the workplace during this period.
“Many businesses need to maintain a certain staffing level in order to survive. Employers should have a set of simple workplace agreements in place before kick-off to help ensure their businesses remain productive whilst keeping staff on side too."
Watching the World Cup 2022 during work hours
Here, Acas shares its top tips for bosses and staff on watching the World Cup at work....
Time off - Employees should remember that it may not always be possible to book a holiday. However, bosses may wish to look at being a little more flexible when allowing staff time off during the World Cup. The key is for both parties to try and come to an agreement. All requests for leave should be considered fairly. A consistent approach should be applied for holiday requests for other major sporting events too as not everyone likes football.
Sickness absence – Sickness and attendance policies will still apply during the World Cup. Any unauthorised absence, patterns of absence or late attendance could be investigated by your boss and could result in formal proceedings.
Flexibility - One possible option is to have a more flexible working day. Your boss may allow you to come in a little later or finish sooner, and then agree when this time can be made up. Your company may also allow you to listen to the radio or watch TV, or let you have a break during match times. Another option your company might consider is swapping shifts with permission. Any change in hours or flexibility in working hours should be approved with your employer before the event.
Use of social media and websites - There may be an increase in the use of social media or websites covering the 2022 World Cup. Employers may wish to remind staff of any policies regarding the use of social networking and websites during working hours. The policies should be clear on what is and isn’t acceptable web use.
Read more:
- England vs Iran at World Cup 2022: How to watch, kick-off time, injury news and likely line-ups
- Mayor Marvin Rees calls Qatar World Cup a 'stitch-up' that killed thousands of workers
- Qatar World Cup 2022 gets mixed views from Bristol's pubs after a 'difficult year' for industry
- Fake England shirts seized in Bristol as part of £500,000 haul ahead of World Cup
- World Cup 2022: How to watch every game in Qatar, kick-off times and TV schedule
