Charly Gillespie-Smith, the founder and CEO of social media agency Lasting Lemons, has been criticised online for allowing employees to start work at 11am instead of 9:30am after England's World Cup match against Mexico. The policy required staff to provide photographic evidence that they had watched the game.
Online backlash erupts
The email, sent on 2 July 2026, quickly went viral, drawing a flood of criticism on social media. One user commented: "Got to be rage bait." Another wrote: "Virtue signalling at its best." A third said: "What a strange email." One critic asked: "Do employees have to show pictures of their vomit if they’re sick?"
CEO defends decision
Charly defended the move, stating it fosters a positive workplace culture. "I think giving people the chance to enjoy special moments, even when work is busy, helps build a positive environment," she said. "We’re a social media agency – we work very hard and often across odd hours, so I try to be flexible when big events like the World Cup come around." She added that the team of 10 made different choices: some went out to watch, some watched from bed, and others slept.
Team rallies in support
Employees defended Charly on TikTok, with one saying: "Our boss is being cancelled for letting us watch the England game. Surely not?" Supporters online praised the policy, with one writing: "This is how every company should be." Another said: "Now that’s what you call a good good company to work for."
