Employers overrun with skiving staff due to Rugby World Cup

Businesses have been overwhelmed with employees calling in sick to work in order to watch the Rugby World Cup's opening weekend.

UK employment law and HR consultancy Peninsula recently announced that they had received almost 700 calls from worried employers, explaining the issues of staff absenteeism and asking what they should do.

Alan Price, Employment Law Director of Peninsula, explains the epidemic: "It’s almost as though the Rugby World Cup has cast a spell over rugby fans, causing everyday life to stand still, consequently resulting in employees forgetting that they have an obligation to their employers and the company they work for."

In terms of how HR can deal with the truancy issue, Price advocates laying out boundaries prior to any events. By briefing employees on expected codes of conduct beforehand, HR can significantly reduce the number of workers who 'pull a sickie.'