Upcoming global tournament a 'real workforce planning test' for organisations
The upcoming FIFA World Cup could cost workplaces an estimated $17 billion in lost productivity, according to a new report, as the upcoming global football tournament shapes up to be the "real workforce planning test" for organisations.
The FIFA World Cup will take place from 11 June to 19 July, where 48 teams from six confederations will battle it out.
This will be the first men's World Cup since 2002 to be co-hosted by multiple nations, namely the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and workplaces are advised to brace for major disruptions during the tournament dates.
New research from UKG among 8,000 employees from eight countries revealed that individual contributors and frontline managers plan to skip work, clock in hungover, follow matches while on the clock, and ask for flexibility amid the global tournament.
It is expected to cost workplaces at least $17 billion in lost productivity, including $11.7 billion in the US alone, according to the UKG report. Other countries are expected to report the following estimated losses:
- Australia - $653 million
- Canada - $479 million
- France - $749 million
- Germany - $1.34 billion
- Mexico - $369 million
- Netherlands - $388 million
- United Kingdom - $912 million
"The World Cup is more than a global cultural event people want to be part of," said Suresh Vittal, chief product officer at UKG.
"It is a real workforce planning test that can strain performance, productivity, communication, and even retention if it is not proactively managed."
World Cup disruptions
Among the disruptions expected during the tournament dates are absenteeism and presenteeism, according to the UKG report.
It found that 37% of employees globally plan to adjust their work schedule because of the tournament, while 27% said they plan to come in late, leave early, or skip a work day entirely.
Another 14% of employees said they plan to report to work, but will be secretly streaming matches and highlights of the games.
Another 22% said they plan to report to work despite being tired or exhausted, while 11% said they'll be working while hungover.
"When absenteeism and presenteeism hit at scale, the effect is immediate and expensive. Productivity drops, customer experience suffers, and morale takes a hit as the rest of the team is left to cover the gaps," Vittal warned.
A game plan for the World Cup
Employers need to plan ahead in order to manage the upcoming disruptions during the World Cup, according to Vittal, who called on leadership to use flexibility as a strategy to protect employee trust and the bottom line.
"The World Cup is a test of how well organisations can respond when conditions change fast," he added.
"Employers do not need to trade productivity for flexibility. They need the discipline to plan ahead, the insight to act as every shift unfolds, and the execution muscle to convert pressure into performance, just like the world's top soccer stars."
