Can I take the day off for England’s World Cup game – and what if I’m late for work?
Many pubs will be allowed to open until 5am to show the England v Mexico World Cup match. Fans could face a sluggish morning after the 1am kick-off.
Intelligence analysis by Qwen 2.5 (3B)
Fans of the England team may struggle with their work commitments on Monday due to the late start of the World Cup game, leading to potential issues at work and holiday requests.
If you want to watch the World Cup game and your job starts early, you might not have enough time to get ready or take a day off. If you do call in sick, it won't count as a real reason because football isn't a real illness. And if you're late for work, your boss can ask why.
Analysis
Holiday Requests and Absences
Employees' Rights and Policies
Many employers have policies setting out how holiday should be booked. If you asked as soon as you got in on Thursday morning – and your workplace’s holiday policy allows it – you might be OK. However, if you didn’t, the answer could be no. Taking the day off without permission is likely to result in disciplinary action.
Sick Days and Absences
Employers should already have processes in place to deal with staff who phone in sick for the odd day. These usually start with a return-to-work interview where they should be asked to explain any inconsistencies between the reason given for their absence and any observed behavior, such as pictures of them on social media watching football in the pub.
Late Arrivals and Absences
Unless previously agreed with your boss, this can count as an unauthorised absence. Typically, employers will only take action if this happens repeatedly. The good news is that if England are victorious, the rest of their games will be at a more sleep-compatible time.
Key points
- Many pubs will be allowed to open until 5am to show the World Cup game
- Fans could struggle with their work commitments on Monday due to the late start of the game
- Employers should have processes in place to deal with staff who phone in sick for the odd day
If England wins the game and their next matches are at more reasonable times, workers might have less trouble with their schedules.
If England loses or doesn't progress far in the tournament, workers who want to watch the match might face disciplinary action for taking time off or being late.
