England's World Cup last-16 match against Mexico could be delayed by thunderstorms, potentially pushing the finish past dawn and triggering a massive wave of sickies among British workers. The 1am kick-off at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City could be postponed due to lightning strikes, and if the match goes to extra time and penalties, it may not end until 4am. However, weather experts warn it could drag on even longer.
Thunderstorm Threat and Match Delays
According to the Met Office, thunderstorms are forecast to hit Mexico City an hour before kick-off. Under US rules, play must be stopped if lightning is detected within eight miles of a stadium, and a match can only resume 30 minutes after the last bolt. The countdown restarts if more bad weather hits. Freak weather has already disrupted the tournament: France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia after a two-hour mid-match thunderstorm delay, and Mexico's last-32 match against Ecuador started an hour late due to lightning at the Azteca.
If the match is delayed, the climax could be pushed well past dawn. This would cause problems for pubs, which can only stay open until 5am to show the match on TV. It would also spark a nationwide skive-off as boozed-up fans struggle to stay awake for the result.
Millions of Workers Plan to Call in Sick
Experts estimate that 2.2 million workers will bunk off on Monday after the Government refused to make it a bank holiday. This includes 419,739 Londoners, 72,957 from Birmingham, and 65,729 Mancunians – Britain's top three hangover hotspots. Research suggests up to 70% of the nation intends to try to stay up to watch the match. Productivity is expected to grind to a halt, with millions of staff either absent or staggering around in a zombie-like state.
Union chiefs have called on employers to accommodate flexible working requests so workers can watch the match. The TUC has urged bosses to show 'common sense and understanding' by allowing some to work from home or come in later.
Holiday Requests Surge
According to BrightHR, which monitors absence among a million employees across 50,000 UK companies, by Thursday 5.1 million of the UK's 33.4 million workforce had asked for Monday off. Another 1 million put in last-minute requests on Friday. If all requests are granted, 4 million more workers will be off than on the same Monday last July.
BrightHR chief executive officer Alan Price said: “After the calls for an additional bank holiday for the Mexico game, many workers are taking matters into their own hands, turning Monday into an unofficial Bank Holiday. We have seen an influx of holiday requests from fans who plan on staying up all night to cheer on the team against Mexico.” More than 2.3 million sickies have already been taken by football fans in the UK during the tournament, according to the company’s data.
Creative Solutions from Employers
Alan said some companies had got 'creative' in a bid to minimise the impact and avoid a human resources nightmare. “From late starts to free breakfasts to flexibility with annual leave requests, it’s clear that Brits are looking forward to cheering on the team on Monday morning,” he said. “While it’s a big boost for pubs and hospitality, there will be an impact on productivity for many businesses. A 3 to 4am final whistle leaves little time to sleep off the hangover so there’ll be a lot of sleepy people, sore heads, and reduced productivity from those who do make it in. Be aware that alcohol remains in the system, so anyone who drives for work must be sober by the time they start.”
Parents Let Children Stay Up
Research from Freely – the free streaming platform backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 – suggests 29% of parents will back England manager Thomas Tuchel’s call to let their children stay up late to watch major World Cup matches. Around 94% of fans said they would not miss key games regardless of kick-off times.
