As World Cup fever builds ahead of Monday’s middle-of-the-night match, businesses are scrambling to work out how they handle the day after.
Employees who are hoping to stay up late for England’s clash with Mexico – which is due to kick off at 01:00 BST – will want to know what their options are.
While some industries such as manufacturing and retail will be less able to provide flexibility, others are offering bleary-eyed fans later starts so they can catch up on sleep.
Joshua Elash, who runs London-based firm MT Finance Group, is allowing his staff to start work at 11:00.
“It wasn’t a dilemma at all. This was as close to a no-brainer as a business can get,” he says.
“Everybody at this company works in the office. We don’t actually have a work from home policy here.
“We’re a finance company, so we think it’s important and critical that everybody is in and communicating and working together in real time.
“So yeah, under normal circumstances, all 125 of them would be here in the office at 08:45 or 09:00 Monday morning. But that certainly won’t be the case this Monday.”
Joshua says he and other senior managers will be staying up to watch the game, and says if he fancies a lie-in it’s only fair to extend that to the rest of the team.
“It’s good for morale,” he says, adding it will be worth it even if Monday isn’t a particularly productive day overall.
“Some things are more important than, you know, a day’s revenue,” he adds.
On Thursday the government said pubs would be able to stay open until 05:00 on Monday.
Employers are being urged to use their “common sense and understanding” and allow flexible working requests where they can.
The TUC, the umbrella group for trade unions, says bosses where possible should allow staff to work from home, start later and make up their hours in the near future, or swap their hours.
John Palmer, senior advisor at conciliation service Acas, says firms must treat requests for time off fairly – there will be Mexico fans as well as England supporters in the workforce. Employees should be aware it might not be possible to book time off at short notice.
He adds some staff who have no interest in the football may be happy to swap shifts.
But some industries will be less able to offer flexibility than others. The British Chambers of Commerce says businesses where this will be challenging include manufacturing production lines, frontline retail and hospitality.
Its director of policy, Kate Shoesmith, says: “Ultimately, there will be some jobs, such as shift work, where it won’t be possible but we’re confident most employers will be thinking about how they can keep everyone onside.
“Talking to staff and customers about plans, can also help reduce disruption and decrease any impact on productivity.”
Supermarkets Sainsbury’s and Aldi say it will be business as usual in their stores on Monday. There’s also no change for the car manufacturer Nissan.
Octopus Energy is allowing its engineers to start home visits a couple of hours late, while staff in office or home-based roles looking after customers can start and finish later.
“We want to make sure before people drive and do safety-critical work you’ve had a bit of rest but also that you’re able to watch the game,” says chief executive Greg Jackson.
“I also think most customers are not gonna want someone knocking on their door at half eight or nine on Monday morning.”
He says they will fill gaps with cover from colleagues in Bosnia and South Africa, and staff who come in will be thanked with snacks in the morning.
Zaid Patel, director of estate agency Highcastle Estates, has cancelled his team’s usual Monday morning meeting and is allowing staff to start late or book last-minute leave.
“I don’t want people to be conflicted over watching the England game and coming into work,” he says, adding he’ll “get the black coffees ready” for those who do come in.
He thinks the decision will help with “trust and culture” in the business. “We have conversations about the World Cup every day,” he adds.
