'We're staying home' | How HR can tackle staff skipping work to watch the World Cup

The 2022 World Cup kicks off in less than a week, and expectations are high for teams and fans alike. Managers will be hard at work preparing their teams for success in the tournament.

At the same time, employers should be on the ball when it comes to managing staff and ensuring provisions are in place to keep productivity levels high, especially when a big match falls during a working day.

Two home nations will be competing in the tournament - England and Wales, who have even been drawn in the same group. They will both play their first matches on Monday 21 November and, crucially, England’s match is set to kick off at 1pm UK time.

Meanwhile, Friday 25 November is a date to watch for employers in Wales. This is only the second time that Wales has qualified for the tournament and anticipation is high, so employers may be concerned that their second match is scheduled for 10am UK time on Friday 25 November.