With The Ashes series in full flow should employers relax their Time and Attendance policies to allow staff to support England or Australia?

During the previous football World Cup 51% of employers (DLA piper) looked at the option of flexible working. Also surveyed were 352 businesses who found that the most popular flexible working options during big sporting events were shift swapping (33%), early finishes (59%) and late start (35%) – more likely after a late finish in the sport the previous evening.

With the majority of big sporting events being streamed online employers must weigh if they want their staff in the office and not being particularly productive or allow their staff to clock out during events and them give their full focus whilst in the work place. During the last World Cup only 18% of employers reviewed their internet usage policy.

During the 2012 Olympic Games in London 22% of UK employers relaxed their working hours but the majority of these changes were due to travel restriction in central London.  Many companies in the UK see offering flexible working during sporting events as a chance to boost employee relations and increase staff moral and ultimately reduce unexpected absences.

David Fairhurst, SVP and Chief People office of McDonalds comments on flexible working,

“We believe in the value of flexible working, both for employees and for our business, and innovative HR schemes are already proving effective to make sure everyone is able to celebrate sporting events without it affecting their work”  

 So, how do you feel about flexible working and how will you be recording your time and attendance during The Ashes?