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ARTICLE · 16 JULY 2026

Falling Asleep At Work After The World Cup Final: Could This Justify Disciplinary Action?

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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup captivates fans worldwide, employers across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg face a unique workplace challenge: employees arriving exhausted after late-night matches. This analysis examines whether falling asleep at work due to World Cup-related fatigue constitutes grounds for immediate dismissal, exploring the legal frameworks and thresholds for gross misconduct in each jurisdiction. The article also addresses critical data protection risks that arise when fatigued employ

BelgiumEmployment and HR
Kris De Schutter
Kris De Schutter
Youssef el Harchaoui
Youssef el Harchaoui
Stéphanie De Smedt
Stéphanie De Smedt
Emilia Fronczak
Emilia Fronczak
Klaas Wiersma
Klaas Wiersma
Hélène Deroubaix
Hélène Deroubaix
Maude Ciccarese
Maude Ciccarese
Julien Rodsphon
Julien Rodsphon
Kirill Ryabtsev
Kirill Ryabtsev
+1 more

The FIFA World Cup does not only create excitement on the pitch; it can also have consequences in the workplace. As the 2026 World Cup reaches its final stages, many dedicated supporters might have experienced a lack of sleep after late-night matches. Not every fan can take leave to recover, leaving employers faced with employees arriving at work potentially exhausted, or even falling asleep during a meeting or behind their desk.

In our first article, we examined the consequences that World Cup-related fatigue may have for workplace accidents. This time, we focus on another possible consequence of lack of sleep: falling asleep at work. Could this amount to gross misconduct and justify an immediate dismissal without notice? The short answer is: usually not. Employers may nevertheless consider other appropriate measures

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