Tips on managing staff during the 2016 European Football Championships

The 2016 European Football Championships is set to provide entertainment, discussion and possibly heartbreak for many employees in the joinery sector. With the event kicking off soon, it is important that employers are aware of how to deal with any potential disruptions that such an event may bring.

With representatives from a number of countries within the British joinery workforce, and teams appealing to fans from all over the Europe, it’s worth considering that individuals could be interested in watching teams from all nations, not just England, Wales, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.

When will it happen?

The tournament kicks off on Friday 10th June with each team set to play 3 group stage fixtures. When these finish, participating countries could play up to four further matches in the competition by the time the tournament finishes on Sunday 10th July.

The matches take place on all days of the week, and although many of them during the weekends, a few will take place during working hours. Wales vs England, for example, takes place at 2pm on a Thursday afternoon. Games in the knockout stages may not finish until almost 11pm.

Group stage fixtures include:

Saturday 11th June
Wales vs Slovakia at 5pm
England vs Russia at 8pm
Sunday 12th June
Poland vs Northern Ireland at 5pm
Monday 13th June
Republic of Ireland vs Sweden at 5pm
Thursday 16th June
England vs Wales at 2pm
Ukraine vs Northern Ireland at 5pm
Saturday 18th June
Belgium vs Republic of Ireland at 2pm
Monday 20th June
Russia vs Wales at 8pm
Slovakia vs England at 8pm
Tuesday 21st June
Northern Ireland vs Germany at 5pm
Wednesday 22nd June
Italy vs Republic of Ireland at 8pm

What are the risks to the business?

With most of the games taking place in the evening, employees may decide to watch the games in the pub, or drinking domestically with friends or colleagues.

The first point to make is that it is unacceptable for an employee to turn up so hung over as to be incapable of doing any work the next day. Employees in such a state can pose a serious risk to workplace safety, especially where their job involves tasks such as operating machinery or driving a vehicle. We have written a template alcohol and drugs policy that employers may wish to adopt.

It is also important to remind staff of your policy on absence. Employers should make clear there are disciplinary consequences for taking unauthorised time off without good reason, not performing at work, or misbehaving. It should be made clear that it is unacceptable to use sick leave, either to watch events or to recover from the aftermath of a big night out.

Employers should be wary that such excitement may lead to increased misbehaviour during the tournament, and it is important to consider the needs of the entire workforce and not just those following the football. Consistent application of company policy is paramount.

Taking time off to watch the matches

If it is not inconvenient for the employer, then an employee may be allowed to use some annual leave or negotiate unpaid leave in order to watch (or indeed recover from watching) such an event. Flexible working or shift swapping may also be a reasonable option. Employers are reminded that parents of children aged 16 or under (or of disabled children under the age of 18), and also carers of adults have a right to request to work more flexibly that an employer has a statutory duty to consider. Allowing staff flexibility in start and finish times or introducing a homeworking policy (where possible) may also mean that your business could cope better with unexpected events, such as flooding or winter snow.

Letting employees keep track of the events

Although it is important to bear in mind that not all staff will be interested in the football, you may find that there are opportunities to be gained from catering to the interests of staff during the Euros. It may help to improve employee morale, reduce stress levels and encourage workers to go the extra mile for the organisation.

In the case of the earlier games, such as those which kick off at 2pm, some employers may choose to screen some of the events, or allow employees to follow them on the radio. It is important for employers to set out clearly what their policy is regarding screening and watching events and then be consistent in how this is managed. You can decide whether you are happy for employees to keep track of events, allow a level of flexibility, or take a zero-tolerance approach. However, the important thing is to communicate to staff what the policy is and why, in advance of any games or events, and then enforce it consistently. Businesses are reminded that they will be required to have a TV licence if the matches are to be shown on TV.

With all the matches being broadcast live, staff may want to watch lengthy coverage via their mobile phones or personal devices. With an increase in the use of social networking sites, sporting websites and gambling websites also anticipated, employers should have a clear policy regarding web use in the workplace. ACAS note that, “if employers are monitoring internet usage then the data protection regulations require them to make it clear that it is happening to all employees. A web use policy should make clear what is and what is not acceptable usage.”

When considering letting employees follow events, it is vital that Health and Safety considerations are taken into account, for example to reduce the risk of an employee being distracted from the task in hand.

The BWF’s employment, legal and tax guidance is one of the most developed areas of our support for woodworking companies. BWF members needing advice on tax and employment matters can use our free-to-members business support helplines which includes legal assistance from Wedlake Bell, and employment advice from Croner. They can find further resources in this area under publications, where we have a number of guides and template documents.

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