FSB launches guide to keeping staff happy during the World Cup

Guide will help avoid employment problems, organisation claims

With the 2006 FIFA World Cup less than a week away the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and legal advisers Abbey Legal have produced a guidance leaflet on how firms can avoid employment problems during the tournament.

John Walker, FSB national policy chairman, said: “We should all be able to enjoy the World Cup as much as possible. The tips in this guidance will enable firms and their staff to follow their team with no adverse impact on their business or their employment. Being prepared will let everyone benefit fully from the tournament."

FSB's tips for firms include: setting out the leave policy to staff before the tournament starts; instigating a flexi-time approach for the tournament so that hours lost watching the games are made up afterwards; allowing radios or TVs into the workplace where appropriate; and re-stating the disciplinary procedures of the firm regarding unauthorised absences before the tournament starts.

“Employers need to be aware of the impact that unplanned absence could have on their ability to trade and employees need to know that throwing a sickie rather than asking for time off could cost them dearly. If such issues are sorted out before the first game kicks off then everyone can relax, enjoy the matches and make sure that things get done in the workplace," added Walker.

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Further Reading:

IPTV is the cure for World Cup sickies