Over the next few weeks, there are several international sporting events taking place. It is worth employers thinking about how they can manage the excitement while ensuring productivity doesn’t take a hit.
Both the FIFA World Cup and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup began in the second week of June, and the Wimbledon Championships will follow at the end of the month, with proceedings for all three coming to an end by mid-July.
In addition, the time zones for the FIFA World Cup mean that matches are scheduled for late into the night, with some starting at three in the morning.
There are plenty of ways that employers could get involved and bring excitement into the workplace, such as having themed events, lunches, and games, giving live result notifications, and even creating a World Cup quiz.
However, this could have an impact on productivity levels, absenteeism and presenteeism, and not to mention the issue of sporting rivalries and potential conflict in the workplace!
If you have not already done so, introducing a policy for international sporting events can be beneficial for outlining clear expectations on what is and isn’t allowed, and will provide the necessary guidance for management.
This might include showing matches in communal areas and determining a fair way of who can watch games. Or, if viewing is not feasible, making this clear from the outset.
It is also important to emphasise the need for respectful behaviour to ensure that staff don’t get carried away in competitive “banter”, which can so easily evolve into bullying and harassing behaviour.
Employers might see a rise in overlapping holiday requests or requests for adjustments to break or working hours. Employers should therefore ensure they have a fair and consistent process for managing such requests, and that these are communicated.
While there are a lot of management challenges during these times, it can also be exciting for sports fans, and if managed successfully, it can help bring staff together.
If the upcoming sporting schedule raises questions about managing absence or workplace behaviour, contact Solutions for HR today.
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