With the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand set to hit the sporting headlines for the next few weeks, time is ticking away for employers to consider some key issues before the tournament kicks off on 9 September.
Big sporting events can trigger an increase in requests for annual leave and sickness absence and with their potential to have a negative impact on performance, it makes sense for employers to think about ways to maintain productivity and keep staff engaged when they take place.
Colin Foote, a solicitor in the Employment department at Gregg Latchams, said: “Being willing to stay flexible is likely to be a wise approach for employers during events like the Rugby World Cup or next year’s UEFA Euro 2012 football championships so, for example, they might consider altering start and finish times on match days.
“However, employees also need to understand that they must follow employment policies and procedures. For example, they have a statutory right to annual leave but they need to give appropriate notice and the employer can decide when holiday can be taken and how many people can be off at any particular time.
“During an event, employers may see an increase in use of certain websites, such as the Rugby World Cup website. They should have in place a clear policy on internet use at work that sets out what is and is not acceptable. If they do monitor workers’ internet use, data protection regulations require that they inform staff of this.”
For more information, please contact Colin Foote.
