During Euro 2012 and London Olympics it is highly likely
that at least some employees will throw a "sickie" to
watch the TV coverage and a larger number will spend significant
amounts of time checking sports news at work. In the first of three
articles covering the 2012 summer of sport employment issues,
lawyers in our
Employment Team answer some questions which you may be faced
with.
The Summer of Sport is likely to raise issues for
employers, in particular with regards to absenteeism and
productivity. Will Walsh answers some of the most frequent
questions.
Do you have to allow employees to take certain
days off as holiday?
No, but you should consider holiday requests fairly. You
should follow your normal rules on taking holiday, unless these can
be fairly adapted or relaxed to the circumstances, for example
first-come, first-served. Explain to staff in advance that leave
requests will not be refused unreasonably, but it may not be
possible to agree to all
