As most of you are aware, the World Cup in South Africa is now underway, with a nations hopes pinned on England. With the World Cup comes an increase in sick days, as people are eager to see the crucial matches.

A survey conducted by Betfair suggests that 32% of fans would consider skipping work to watch a crucial game this summer, which could be a major problem for employers and the productivity of an organisation. Some die-hard football fans are willing to take unauthorised sick days, which is likely to annoy less passionate football fans and dedicated employees. The result is often conflict.
If your organisation has not fully prepared for possible altercations as a result of the World Cup, then putting some simple policies in place may deter employees from having sick days, as well as avoiding conflict. Allowing individuals to listen to games on the radio or keeping up to date on the internet is very simple to do and could prevent arguments over the next 4 weeks. These procedures also help to maintain productivity levels, as well as good relations between the organisation and employees.

However, if these arguments do occur, resolving the issue immediately will alleviate any bad feelings between the two individuals. Mediating between the disputing parties allows you to talk sensibly and allows each party to be heard. This in turn will help to resolve the issues in hand, and get your team working together in no time.