With England’s World Cup match against Mexico scheduled for a 1:00 AM BST kickoff, businesses are currently navigating how to manage staffing for the following morning. While some sectors like manufacturing and retail find flexibility difficult, others are choosing to allow employees a delayed start to recover from late-night viewing.
Joshua Elash, who leads the London-based MT Finance Group, is permitting his 125 employees to report for work at 11:00 AM on Monday. Elash views the decision as beneficial for company morale, noting that he and his senior team plan to watch the game as well. He suggests that prioritizing staff satisfaction can outweigh potential dips in a single day’s revenue.
Government guidance encourages employers to use discretion and offer flexible working arrangements where feasible. The TUC suggests options such as working from home, shifting hours, or starting later. Meanwhile, Acas representative John Palmer advises that companies should handle time-off requests equitably, warning that short-notice leave is not guaranteed.
The British Chambers of Commerce notes that industries reliant on shift work, such as production lines and hospitality, face the greatest challenges in adapting schedules. Major retailers like Sainsbury’s and Aldi have indicated they will maintain normal operating hours.
Legal expert Michelle Last clarifies that employees do not have a statutory right to last-minute annual leave for such events. However, she suggests it is often in an employer’s best interest to approve these requests proactively rather than risking employee absenteeism or reduced productivity caused by fatigue.
