A survey indicates that employees worldwide plan to take fake sick leave to follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beginning in mid-June, which could cause a notable drop in global work productivity during this month.
With less than a short time remaining until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled from 11 June to 19 July, this global sports event may become a nightmare for the working world as many employees plan to take leave—both genuine and fake—to follow the matches closely, especially key games featuring top teams.
Data from a UKG survey, a human resources software provider that gathered information from 8,000 employees across eight countries, reveals interesting figures: one in three respondents plans to take at least one day off, and one in four expects to be away from their desks at times. Furthermore, 25 percent admit they are willing to test their boss's patience to the limit, and 37 percent intend to adjust their work schedules to accommodate the tournament.
This situation intensifies in the joint host countries—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—where, in addition to employee absenteeism, traffic congestion is a significant concern in 11 U.S. cities, three Mexican cities, and two Canadian cities hosting matches.
Amid the turmoil between the World Cup and the working world, an interesting suggestion is to turn the crisis into an opportunity by using the “World Cup” as a team-building activity, such as organizing spaces for employees to watch matches together. The value of the team bonding gained may outweigh the two hours of lost work time.
Meanwhile, supervisors should prepare by encouraging employees to request leave in advance or offer special incentives to those willing to work during key match days, so that work can continue amidst the global excitement for the World Cup.
/source:Business Insider