The world cup usually provokes a collective groan from employers
as they prepare for a dearth of fake sick days and staff coming in
with stinking hangovers. But what can you realistically do when
your employee whines that they just happen to have food poisoning
on the day of the semi final?
Well, you can start by admitting to yourself that the World Cup
is happening, and your employees are going to try to watch it,
whether you like it or not. So get some kind of policy in place. We
don't mean some draconian set of laws banning all fun during this
most major of sporting events. Stopping your team from watching the
footie is sure to incur resentment, general unhappiness and a lack
of motivation.
Instead, use the weeks ahead to show your team you value them,
and that you're up for a bit of fun. This is a perfect opportunity
to shine as a small business and make your team happy. Here's
how:
1. Flexi-time for sport time
Apparently, one in two UK employers are planning on
offering flexible working options during the world cup. In other
words, staff can take an afternoon off to watch the game as long as
they make up the hours throughout the rest of the week. This is a
pretty perfect option - the work gets done, and your employees get
the best of both worlds.
1. Flexi-time for sport time
Apparently, one in two UK employers are planning on offering
flexible working options during the World Cup. In other words,
staff can take an afternoon off to watch the game as long as they
make up the hours throughout the rest of the week. This is a pretty
perfect option - the work gets done, and your employees get the
best of both worlds.
2. Make an event of it
If you're partial to a spot of footie yourself, then hire a big
screen or projector, or just drag in next door's TV, and gather
round to watch the match - amply supplied with beer and snacks,
obviously. It'll be much cheaper than taking everyone out for a
social night, and it'll make the team feel valued.
3. Get a policy in place
There's no point any of you beating around the bush - if you
have football fans on your team, they're going to try to watch
football matches. So if the two options above don't appeal to you,
lay out a few guidelines before everyone gets stuck in on their own
terms. Explain how sympathetic you're going to be to hangovers
after matches and offer people holiday days if you don't want to
screen the games at work.
Note: this is a brilliant opportunity to show your team you
value them and you're not as tyrannical as bigger companies, so use
it to your advantage by being kindly to the sport-obsessed, rather
than coming down on them like a ton of bricks. Your working
environment will be significantly happier and more productive if
you're understanding.
4. Consult the experts
NatWest, good people that they are, are actually hosting a free
webinar on this very subject next Wednesday, June 9, at 2:15 pm. Nick Soret,
NatWest's head of employment law consultancy support, will help you
figure out the best way to make it through the World Cup. Register here to ask him all and any questions
you might have about managing your team during the weeks ahead and
creating a strategy that keeps the business productive without
punishing football-fanaticism.