Asda, Sainsbury’s, McDonalds all provide for time off during World Cup
As the World Cup gets ready to kick-off next week, the UK’s most prominent employers are gearing up for more flexible working hours to allow employees to watch their favourite World Cup team.
For the duration of the four week tournament, McDonald’s has already commented that eight of every 10 workers have arranged to take time off to view matches. Of the fast food chain’s 80,000 UK staff, a representative survey showed that 84 per cent of workers would take advantage of the flexible working scheme being offered. Allowances for time off will be in the form of part-time work, unpaid leave, or shift swaps.
World Cup games will begin 11 June, next Friday in South Africa. The fast food retailer affirmed that flexible working policies will be included for all competing teams, not just England. Lawyers for the firm said that only allowing for time off for England could result in race discrimination lawsuits.
In a similar move, Sainsbury’s and Asda will also provide employees with the option of taking scheduled time off during World Cup games. ‘World Cup Working Hours’, Sainsbury’s flexible working scheme, allows staff to prearrange for leave during a match. Despite the policy being extended to fans of all teams, the majority of workers scheduling leave are anticipated to be fans of England.
Asda will also look to allow scheduled unpaid leave for staff members to avoid an increase in the number of ’sickies’ during the two-month overlap of the World Cup in June and July. All major firms were advised by their lawyers to allow for time off for all matches, not only England’s, to avoid discrimination suits.
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