Millions of Brits are expected to pull sickies after England's first World Cup match against Croatia tonight, as Thomas Tuchel's team kicks off their campaign. With pubs set to be packed, many employees are planning to skip work tomorrow.
Under-35s Leading the Sickie Surge
According to research by VoucherCodes.co.uk, nearly half of under-35s admit they will phone in sick after the late-night match. The study predicts that tomorrow morning will see the largest drop in productivity across the entire tournament, with 2.5 million working days lost and up to £875 million wiped from the UK economy.
Soft Off Days and Hangover Spending
Many workers plan to adopt a sneaky strategy, with 61% saying they will log on from home but do nothing productive—dubbed 'soft off days'. Meanwhile, post-match spending is expected to surge, with 5.2 million extra coffees and hangover breakfasts worth £30 million fueling the economy.
Google searches for 'good excuses to miss work on short notice' have increased by over 5,000% in the last week, according to Haypp. Markus Lindblad, Head of Legal and External Affairs at Haypp, commented: 'It is fascinating to see such overwhelming support for a national holiday. However, the data also highlights the disruption this could cause, with a significant number of employees, particularly younger generations, admitting they may call in sick to recover from late-night matches.'
Employers are advised to consider flexible working arrangements to balance enthusiasm with productivity during the tournament.
