Employers could be breaking the law if they change their sickness procedures to prevent employees taking time off work to watch the World Cup, lawyers have warned.
Law firm Trowers & Hamlins said employees' sickness entitlements were usually part of the terms and conditions of workers' employment contracts.
Demanding medical evidence for shorter suspect absences or deterring employees from taking sick days by depriving them of payment could be contractually contested and lead to an unfair dismissal claim, the firm warned. It advised employers to introduce a World Cup warning policy explaining how any unauthorised absence would be handled.
Under such a policy, employers should ask for early notification of any requests for time off to watch the football, allow staff to vary their start times or lunch hours if they make up the time at a later stage, but warn employees that they cannot simply not turn up for work.
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