With the largest sporting event in the world less than a
month away, now seems an apt time to address how to avoid falling foul of your
employer’s polices during the World Cup.
On the off chance you haven’t already seen them, the match
times have already been released this year and the majority of them fall within
normal working hours - starting at 13:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 19:00. This is obviously not ideal for football fans, but gives the possibility of watching the match in working hours. This can be
seen as both a blessing and a curse, and I’ll discuss some of the reasons why
below:
1. Do I have a
right to watch my country’s team play?
The short answer is no (unless your contract states otherwise
– highly unlikely!). Although some employers will let their employees watch
certain games you do not have an express right do to so. However, if, for
instance, your employer allows England fans the afternoon off to watch the
match but doesn’t give the same offer to supporters of other countries when
their teams are playing this could potentially be seen as race discrimination
under the Equality Act.
2. Can I be
disciplined for my behaviour on a staff social?
It’s a fact that a lot of staff social events involve alcohol
and sometimes there can be a tendency towards inappropriate behaviour when
drinking is involved. I would suggest
this is especially true during the World Cup given the excitement of the event
and the high emotions (usually disappointment, for England fans) involved. This
gives rise to the question of whether or not your employer can sanction you for
your behaviour during a staff social? The answer to this question is yes, they
can. If your employer organises an outing or event their normal rules on
appropriate behaviour will apply to staff who attend it. There are many
examples of staff members acting inappropriately at work events and facing
disciplinary proceedings because of this, so it is worth bearing in mind!
3. Can I show
support for my country’s team at work?
The World Cup is one of the largest sporting events in the
world, bringing together 64 countries who fight for a spot in the final 32. Many different nations with their own customs and
traditions, it is a great chance for employees to share their culture with one
another. However, due to the competitive nature of the event some supporters
can tend to get a little carried away. It goes without saying that it is a good
idea to be respectful about the other countries in the competition. Negative
comments and stereotypes are often found to be discriminatory in law, whether
they are intended to be or not, and can lead to disciplinary action or even dismissal.
It is also worth mentioning that some employers have a “neutrality policy”
which may prohibit employees displaying flags and various other national
symbols in the office; if in doubt, ask your employer before doing so.
James Battle - Legal Assistant
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