Could flexible benefits be preferable to ''sickness'' absence during World Cup?

Organisations which offer flexible benefits such as personally-tailored hours may benefit from a happier and more productive workforce during the Fifa World Cup.

According to research carried out by YouGov for Cisco, more than one in ten British male workers would ring in sick if their employer would not let them watch an important match in the tournament.

Many of the early round games are taking place in the afternoon - including what could be a crucial clash for England against Slovenia at 15:00 BST on June 23rd 2010.

Of the staff polled who are able to tailor their own schedules, 35 per cent said they would rearrange a meeting in order to be able to catch the soccer action.

Managing director of Cisco WebEx in Europe, the Middle East and Africa James Campanini said a "balancing act" is needed to keep business owners and employees happy during the World Cup.

"It''s about getting the home nations to enjoy this global football event while keeping a productive workforce," he said.

Earlier this month, a survey by DLA Piper found more than half (51 per cent) of UK employers are planning to offer flexible benefits during the World Cup, such as personally-tailored schedules. Back