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'Start work at 11' - but will other bosses be as flexible over England's 1am match?
bbc.
Excitement is building for the World Cup in England. Businesses face a big challenge. They must manage work on the day after the England match against Mexico. The game starts on Monday morning at 01:00 BST. Rain might make it start earlier. Many employees want to stay up late to watch. They need to know their work plans for Monday. They want to rest after watching the game.
Some jobs make flexibility hard. Factories and retail stores often cannot change schedules. Other businesses are letting staff start later. This helps tired fans sleep in. They can still do their jobs. It balances personal fun with work duties. Joshua Elash leads a London finance firm called MT Finance Group. He made a bold choice. He lets his staff start work at 11:00. He calls this a "no-brainer" decision. His office does not allow working from home. He needs all 125 employees present for good teamwork. Workers usually arrive between 08:45 and 09:00. They will arrive late this Monday. Mr. Elash will watch the game too. He thinks it is fair to rest. He believes this boosts morale. Even if Monday is less productive, the long-term benefits are worth it.
The government allowed pubs to stay open until 05:00. This helps fans celebrate. Experts tell employers to use common sense. They suggest flexible work requests. The TUC is a group for workers. It advises bosses to allow working from home or later starts. Staff can swap hours to make up time. John Palmer works for Acas. He is an expert in worker relations. He says firms must treat all requests fairly. This includes fans of other countries too. He warns that last-minute time off might not be possible. However, staff who do not like football can swap shifts. Some industries find flexibility difficult. The British Chambers of Commerce says factories and shops have limits. Kate Shoesmith leads policy there. She says shift work prevents late starts. Open talk with staff helps reduce problems. Clear plans reduce stress for everyone.
Some big companies stick to normal routines. Supermarkets like Sainsbury’s and Aldi will stay open. They prioritize reliable service. Nissan will not change its car-making schedules. For other leaders, the World Cup is a chance to build culture. Kevin Craig runs a communications agency called PLMR. He is a big football fan. He recently watched England play Panama. He lets his 100 employees start at 12:00 if needed. His offices are in London and other cities. When he saw the 01:00 kick-off, he knew he had to act. His company supports families as well as profits. He knows not all businesses can do this. But he sees it as a special exception. Supporting interests strengthens loyalty. It makes workers happier and more dedicated.
Octopus Energy also has flexible plans. The energy firm lets engineers delay home visits. Customer service staff can change their times. CEO Greg Jackson cares about safety. He wants drivers to be well-rested. He also wants them to watch the match. Most customers do not want visits at 08:00. So Octopus uses staff from Bosnia and South Africa. They cover the gap. Early workers get snacks. This shows appreciation for their punctuality. Zaid Patel runs an estate agency called Highcastle Estates. He canceled the Monday meeting. He allows late starts or last-minute leave. He does not want staff to feel conflicted. He jokes about having black coffee ready. He believes this builds trust. Talking about the World Cup is normal there. It helps the team bond.
Legal experts give cautious advice. Michelle Last is a lawyer at Keystone Law. She says workers have no right to short-notice leave. They cannot demand time off for games. However, she suggests agreeing to requests. If not, staff might call in sick. They might be too tired to work well. So, she recommends encouraging leave in advance. Alison Loveday works for LLM Solicitors. She agrees that unpaid leave builds goodwill. It is better than forcing staff to come in. But logistics are hard. Short notice makes approvals difficult. Businesses must balance happiness with work needs. They must find a middle ground. This respects both the game and the workplace.