Keeping your eye on the ball (Employees time off)
With the World Cup kicking off on 11 June 2010 followed by Wimbledon on 21 June, employers may face increased requests from employees for time off. How should such requests be handled fairly?
Sporting events such as the World Cup and Wimbledon can cause significant disruptions for employers either because of
the increased requests for holiday or as a result of unauthorised absence. It is therefore important that employers
tackle these issues proactively to minimise any adverse impact on the business during these periods.
Employers should review business needs and decide in advance how many employees can be absent during
these periods. Employees should be informed of the necessary staffing levels and be reminded of the
balance of their annual leave. Any requests for holiday should be dealt with on a first come first
served basis.