Employment law solicitors are advising businesses that are choosing to offer flexible working to employees during the World Cup to take care in order to avoid the risk of having discrimination claims brought against them.
A recent survey of over 350 business leaders and HR managers found that just over half of employers surveyed are planning to offer some sort of flexible working arrangements for their staff during England’s games.
Whilst flexible working during such big events as the World Cup are obviously a great way of maintaining staff morale, there are risks that policies could amount to discrimination on the grounds of race, nationality or even gender. This is why businesses are being reminded that not all employees will be England fans and not all football fans will be female.
Although just over half of businesses are planning to offer flexible working when England are playing, only 19% were considering doing the same during matches of other countries. Employment law solicitors are underlining that those companies who will be arranging flexible working should consider requests for flexible working during other countries’ games on the same basis as they would for England fans or their policies could amount to discrimination on the grounds of race or nationality.
It is also worth noting that the good intentions of employers could set a precedent for future sporting events, not only in the footballing world.