Stories

Tue, 09 Jun 2026

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 How to enjoy the World Cup - and keep your boss on side

Football fans and bosses share their strategies to balance late night kick offs with work the next day.

* At least 1.5 million workers will call in sick during the tournament, resulting in more than 2.3 million additional sickness absences.
* The World Cup could cost UK employers around £681m in lost productivity.
* One company, Pull the Pin, is allowing staff to work flexible hours or start later after late-night matches.
* Some businesses are warning of a spike in "World Cup sickies".
* Research suggests that the World Cup could lead to significant absenteeism and lost productivity for UK employers.