I’m an employment lawyer – here are your rights if you get in trouble for having a hangover at work after the World Cup
BRITS across the nation will raise a glass while watching World Cup matches to either celebrate or commiserate the results. But if you have one too many and find yourself nursing a horrific hangover after the footie, your boss may not be too impressed.
Brits nursing a World Cup hangover could face getting into trouble with their bossCredit: Getty
Although some firms are forgiving of football fans getting tipsy, others aren’t so lenient when workers bend the rules.
An employment lawyer has now revealed the consequences you may face if you turn up to work looking worse for wear – and what rights you need to be aware of.
Victoria Schofield, a solicitor at Slater & Gordon, warned revellers they could get into trouble if they pull a sickie over the World Cup.
Bosses could be skeptical of your illness if you don’t make it to work the day after a big match – especially if everyone’s doing it.
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She explained that unless your sports-loving executive has granted permission for you to watch specific World Cup matches, you will be liable to face disciplinary action if you bunk off.
If you simply don’t turn up to work, you could face problems thanks to the fine print in your contract, according to Victoria.
For those fearful of suffering a sore head from the night before, you are likely to avoid dismissal if you turn up late as a one-off.
However, you could still be slapped with a verbal or written warning for your bad timekeeping.
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But Brits who are simply too rough from the beer to physically work are liable to face disciplinary action.
Victoria explained: “A flexible employer might be willing to agree to special unpaid leave for employees to watch matches, or late starts/finishes the next day to accommodate the inevitable hangover.
“But a stricter employer might request doctors’ sick notes for absences taken during the course of the World Cup.
“As always, communication between employer and employee is key to a successful relationship.”
So instead of scoring an own goal, it’s best to try to come to some agreement regarding your shifts with your employer before skiving off work.
Footie fans who find their work life is clashing with key matches aren’t in the clear either.
Due to the stifling heat and three-hour time difference with Qatar, pivotal games are scheduled to be played at sporadic times.
This means a ton of Brits will miss out on watching England and other countries compete in the 2022 World Cup.
The first England match is against Iran – who are 500/1 to win the trophy, compared to the Three Lions’s odds of 8/1 – and it starts at 1pm.
A huge chunk of the UK’s 33 million-strong workforce will not be able to watch it as it kicks off during work hours.
But Victoria says if you simply don’t turn up to work, you are highly likely to be punished for it.
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She explained that many policies dictate employees must devote their whole time at work to their job – meaning if you sneak off to watch the match, you could be accused of “stealing” work time.
The solicitor said: “A reasonable employer should of course carry out a reasonable investigation into any alleged disciplinary offence and be careful to apply a proportionate sanction.
“In most cases, an employee has a right to be given adequate warning about a disciplinary hearing, especially where dismissal is a potential outcome, and to be accompanied at that hearing, and be able to put his or her case forward.”
If you are accused of misconduct, your employer must have a genuine belief that you are guilty following an internal probe.
But if you are threatened with dismissal, it has to be within the “range of reasonable responses” your boss could have taken.
This means that an employment tribunal would consider whether any reasonable employer would have sacked a worker in these circumstances.
If you have a clean disciplinary record, a tribunal is likely to find that getting the boot from your job was unfair.
Victoria said: “However, the cases are likely to be fact dependent and it is very hard to make any sweeping generalisations.”
The employment law expert instead suggests trying to come to an agreement with your employer regarding flexibility during the World Cup.
Pledging to make up for any work time lost may help your case.
But if your boss outright refuses your negotiation, Victoria explained there is not much else to do except using your holiday allowance.
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Footie fans previously launched a petition calling for the nation to be given a half-day off to watch England’s first World Cup match.
Bosses at the Road to Victory arena in Manchester, Europe’s largest fanzone, want the workforce to be able to down tools to support the boys on Monday. More
