Employment experts are warning of the risk of absenteeism on Monday 6 July, as England play their next Fifa World Cup game at 1:00am, while another heatwave hits the UK. Meanwhile, contrasting figures have emerged in the UK and US over how many hospitality jobs have been created by the gargantuan tournament.

The England football team’s late win over the Democratic Republic of Congo, courtesy of Harry Kane, has focused attention on its round of 16 match, which will be played in Mexico City at 1:00am BST on Monday morning.

The match in the Azteca Stadium may not finish until 3:00am – or about 4:00am if there is extra time followed by penalties.

There is also a possibility the government may allow an extension to pub opening hours, despite having originally ruled it out. Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson told the House of Commons today: “Pubs will miss out on a real opportunity to get money in the till if ministers do not make a blanket extension for licensing hours.”

His stance had the support of the British Beer and Pub Association, some councils and the Mayor of London. The prime minister was said to be reconsidering the initial refusal.

Jeremy Berg, employment partner, at law firm Spencer West, told Personnel Today there were bound to be people late for work or entirely absent on Monday.

He said: “Employers are no doubt nervous about Monday morning’s 1:00am clash against Mexico, but likely also nervous of Monday’s inevitable staff absenteeism following it.

“While the spirit of the game is infectious, it’s vital to remember that ‘World Cup fever’ is not a recognised reason for leave.”

Berg added: “Contractually, all annual leave remains subject to employer approval. Unauthorised absences to watch a match can constitute a breach of contract and may trigger disciplinary action.”

He said that attempting to “pull a sickie” was a high-risk strategy, which if discovered – perhaps pictured on social media celebrating a last-minute winner – could even be classified as gross misconduct, potentially leading to summary dismissal.

Berg advised transparency was the best policy for football fans to take. He advised that proactive communication would be their best tactic because “honesty about a desire to watch specific matches is often better received than a dubious last-minute illness.”

Employees should take the time to understand their company’s specific policy on annual leave and flexible working and discuss potential shift swaps or temporary flexible working arrangements with their manager well in advance.

Agency staff demand high in UK, but not in US

Meanwhile, new analysis indicates that the UK employment services sector is set to benefit from increased demand for temporary, seasonal and event-based staffing around the World Cup, with agencies expected to see a significant uplift in hiring activity across hospitality, leisure and logistics roles.

Analysis from business banking experts at money.co.uk suggests that the sector will generate an additional £1.6 billion in revenue over the wider May-July 2026 period – a 5.4% increase compared with a typical non-World Cup year.

The figures are based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) turnover data and historical labour market trends from previous World Cup tournaments, modelling how large-scale events influence short-term hiring demand across the UK economy.

A key driver of the uplift is expected to come from the hospitality sector, where increased footfall during match days is likely to lead to higher demand for bar staff, kitchen workers, waiting staff and venue operations roles.

Event venues, fan zones and screening locations are expected to require additional staffing support to manage increased visitor numbers during peak fixtures.

Recruitment agencies specialising in temporary and flexible labour are also expected to see spikes in placement activity during the tournament window.

Joe Phelan, business bank accounts expert at money.co.uk, said: “The World Cup will create a clear short-term boost in demand for temporary and flexible staffing across the UK, particularly in hospitality and events.

“Late kick-offs and concentrated match-day activity increase pressure on venues during peak evening hours, which in turn drives demand for additional staff at short notice.

“For small and independent businesses, access to temporary labour can be critical in managing these spikes in demand and ensuring they are able to fully capitalise on busy trading periods.”

In the US, however, a World Cup jobs boom has failed to materialise, with employment in restaurants, bars and hotels falling in June.

Analysts had expected the tournament, being hosted jointly by the US, Canada and Mexico, to lead to an increase in leisure and hospitality jobs.

But the sector saw a decline of 61,000 jobs last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said on Thursday.

 

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today

Browse more human resources jobs

The post Risk of absenteeism on Monday as England play overnight in the World Cup appeared first on Personnel Today.

Source: www.personneltoday.com

Employment News