Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

HR practice

Rugby World Cup: issues for employers

by Laura Chamberlain 6 Sep 2011
by Laura Chamberlain 6 Sep 2011

The 2011 Rugby World Cup kicks off in New Zealand at the end of this week and, while it’s unlikely to cause employers issues to the same degree as football’s FIFA World Cup, they may still need to set out a clear policy on the tournament.

Although most of the matches for England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland fall at the weekend, employers may experience problems with absenteeism or productivity during the matches that do fall on weekdays, or with staff who work on weekends.

Due to the time difference, the matches will be shown early in the morning UK time, with most starting at 7am or 9.30am.

Susie Munro, employment law editor at XpertHR, advises that employers make sure they set out a clear policy on the Rugby World Cup.

Munro explains: “Employers can try to minimise disruption and unauthorised absence by acknowledging that some employees will want to follow the World Cup, including some matches that will take place during working hours. By having a clear policy on what is and isn’t acceptable, and perhaps agreeing to flexible working hours on the few days when matches will be taking place during work time, employers could avoid the need for disciplinary action.”

And with the Olympics taking place in London in 2012, employers have already been urged to set out their procedures for the games so that both workers and the business can prepare.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Further information on employment issues caused by the Rugby World Cup and resources on putting together a policy for sporting events can be found on XpertHR.

































































Key Rugby World Cup 2011 dates

Saturday 10 September, 2am Scotland v Romania
Saturday 10 September 9.30am England v Argentina
Sunday 11 September 7.00am Ireland v USA
Sunday 11 September 9.30am Wales v South Africa
Wednesday 14 September 8.30am Scotland v Georgia
Saturday 17 September 9.30am Ireland v Australia
Sunday 18 September 7.00am England v Georgia
Sunday 18 September 4.30am Wales v Samoa
Saturday 24 September 7.00am England v Romania
Sunday 25 September 6.00am Ireland v Russia
Sunday 25 September 8.30am Scotland v Argentina
Monday 26 September 7.30 Wales v Namibia
Saturday 1 October 8.30am England v Scotland
Sunday 2 October 8.3am Ireland v Italy
Sunday 2 October 6am Wales v Fiji
Saturday 8/Sunday 9 October
6am/8.30am
Quarter finals
Saturday 15/Sunday 16 October 9am Semi finals
Friday 21 October 8.30am Third place play-off
Sunday 23 October 8.30am Final
The full match schedule for all 20 participating nations is available here.

Laura Chamberlain

previous post
Legal opinion: Sexual orientation harassment in the workplace
next post
Agency Workers Directive could be diluted

You may also like

What do HR specialists enjoy most about their...

21 Mar 2025

King’s College London get top marks for HR...

20 Nov 2024

Personnel Today Awards 2024: The shortlists in full

13 Nov 2024

CIPD launches HR support pilot scheme for SMEs

7 Oct 2024

Are managers equipped to handle workplace conflict?

24 Sep 2024

Reimagining the employee lifecycle as a public sector...

5 Sep 2024

Employers urged to take action during riots

7 Aug 2024

HR changes save NHS Wales board £740k and...

6 Aug 2024

HR ‘unprepared’ for AI workforce revolution

29 May 2024

Tarantula-pranking train driver reinstated and awarded £40k

28 Feb 2024

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+