A WARNING is being issued to football fans – if you call in sick to watch World Cup games you could be sacked.
The Three Lions stars will jog onto the pitch for their first match in Qatar on November 21 – with kick-off in the middle of the work day.
One in three Brits plan to “pull a sickie” for the game, according to a recent poll of 2,000 people.
But lawyers have urged workers not to fake an illness and say football lovers who fail to show up face the sack.
The first World Cup match is against Iran – who are 500/1 to win the trophy, compared to England’s odds of 8/1 – and it starts at 1pm.
It means millions of the UK’s 33 million-strong workforce will miss it.
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And if a third of workers really do call in sick that means 11 million fans could be dodging their jobs to watch the Three Lions.
But, employment law experts at Richard Nelson LLP have said rather than fibbing about being sick, people should approach their bosses to work out a deal instead.
The lawyers wanted to remind those considering a day off what happened to Nina Farooqi – who was given the boot after bosses saw her celebrating on TV as England beat Denmark at Euro 2020.
Nina had called in sick and travelled from her home in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, to Wembley to watch the Three Lions triumph in the semi-final, before being beaten by Italy in the final.
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Andrew Knorpel, consultant solicitor at Richard Nelson LLP, said: “With England having come agonisingly close to winning the European Championships, the anticipation around the World Cup will only grow in the coming week.
“Due to the time difference many of the games are being played during working hours.
“While many England fans may be worried about missing the team’s first group stage match, we’d encourage them to have an open discussion with their employers about their working arrangements for that day.”
Andrew said companies may be able to offer an extended lunch break or remote working for the afternoon, adding: “This is something we’d encourage.
“If this cannot be granted, employees should consider taking annual leave rather than resorting to pulling a sickie.
“If an employer thinks their employee has called in sick and it is not genuine, they can investigate the case and take disciplinary action over unauthorised absence.”
He added: “Last year at Euro 2020 an England fan was sacked after she called in sick to attend the Three Lions’ semi-final against Denmark at Wembley.
“If a worker does lie or exaggerate an illness or injury for the purpose of getting time off work when in reality they are fine, this would amount to gross misconduct and a fair reason in some circumstances for being let go by their employer.”
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He also warned that fans allowed an extended lunch hour should not return to work tipsy.
Andrew said: “Fans who are under the influence of alcohol upon their return to work later that day or otherwise do anything which might bring their employer into disrepute could leave themselves at risk of being fired also.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
