With all the excitement about the upcoming World Cup in Brazil, it’s no wonder that some of the most excited fans are Brazilians themselves. According to the Rio Times, workers across the nation are to be on a half-day schedule while Brazilian teams are playing. Many Brazilian cities have announced that federal and municipal workers will be on a liberal leave policy during this period, meaning that they can take some time to watch games, but they may have to eventually make up the missed hours. Brazilian financial institutions will be required to stay open at least four hours a day and publicly post their modified hours.
Brazilian employers aren’t the only ones giving special dispensation to employees during this exciting time. UK-based international law firm, Allen & Overy is encouraging leadership to ready itself for the impact of the World Cup by taking a celebratory approach and using it as an opportunity to bolster employee morale. One of the ways they recommend doing this is broadcasting British matches in the office and offering a “reasonable watch” policy, considering employees’ workloads permit it.
What about global organizations concerned about employee conduct during the event? The Employment Law Alliance has put together a handy guide for international employers that advises on handling workplace issues that may arise and addresses possible issues such as time off allowances, off-duty misconduct, “football hooliganism,” intoxication, and gambling in the workplace. The suggestions given are personalized to the cultural expectations and labor laws of each country addressed.
Do you anticipate any interesting changes at your workplace during the 2014 World Cup? How might these rules and allowances be informed by the culture in which you work? Let us know in the comments below.
