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World Cup set to drive £681m in lost productivity for UK employers – UKG

Employees and managers said they plan to skip work, turn up tired or hungover, and watch matches on the job. 

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The latest survey from UKG of 8,000 workers across eight countries found the World Cup could cost at least £12.6bn in lost productivity, with £681m of that in the UK. 

Employees and managers said they plan to skip work, turn up tired or hungover, and watch matches on the job. 

More than a third said they would change their work schedules because of the tournament, and over a quarter said they might miss work by coming in late, leaving early or not coming in at all.

Russell Howe, group vice president, EMEA at UKG, said: “The World Cup is a high-profile example of a challenge employers face every day: Work changes by the hour, especially in frontline-heavy environments, and static planning can quickly expose an execution gap. 

“The World Cup is not just a global cultural moment people want to experience. 

“It is a workplace planning challenge that will put pressure on performance and productivity, staffing coverage, communication, morale, and even retention if handled poorly.”

The survey found 26% of employees planned to push the limits of what their manager would allow, with 14% set to secretly stream matches while at work.

One in five said they would come in tired or exhausted, and 11% admitted they would be working hungover. 

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Howe added: “This is a one-two punch of absenteeism and presenteeism. 

“It’s a costly combination that can have a compounding impact on productivity, customer experience, and team morale as others are forced to pick up the slack. 

“Organisations, especially those in frontline-intensive industries, need to plan today with the ability to manage disruption quickly, adapt coverage in real-time, and use flexibility as a strategy to protect both business performance and employee trust.”

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Data also showed that around 19% of employees said they would consider looking for another job if their work schedule hurt their World Cup experience. 

Managers were more likely than non-managers to plan a day off, ask for schedule changes or request last-minute flexibility. 

One in three people said they would take at least one day off during the World Cup.

He said: “The best employers will be ready to adapt as the World Cup tournament advances. Employers do not have to choose between productivity and employee flexibility. 

“With the right mix of long-term planning, real-time visibility, and clear communications, they can turn a potential productivity drain into a catalyst that builds trust and enhanced performance to have a long-lasting impact.”

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