Posted: Wednesday 14 September 2011
Have you been watching rugby through the night?
Well, it’s been an interesting start to the Rugby World Cup for rugby fans with some exciting (and nerve wracking) matches to entertain.
Big sporting tournaments can produce potential employment issues and the fact that the games are in New Zealand (with the corresponding time difference) adds a further complication. Most matches start early in the morning (Scotland’s first match kicked off at 2am) and this could have a knock on effect with employees coming in late or indeed yawning. Productivity could be effected and there may also be health and safety issues.
Employers should try to have suitable policies in place to ensure everyone is playing by the same rules so to speak. It may be appropriate to arrange for different start / finish up times to accommodate matches or even allow employees to watch games (or at least part of games) within work. Employees should be aware of the penalties for abusing the position, possibly through a gentle email.
And remember, with England and Scotland in the same group, friendly rivalries could become heated, so you want to be careful to make sure no-one has to be "sin binned". In all seriousness, though, employers should be alert to any possibility of bullying or discrimination.
In the meantime, good luck to all the teams and let’s hope the silverware is coming back to the Northern hemisphere.
