Bosses are being encouraged to give staff time off to watch the Olympic Games.
Conciliatory service Acas suggested businesses put agreements in place covering requests for time off, sickness absence or watching TV during the Paris Olympics which start next week.
The call will add to concerns that modern employment practices such as work from home are damaging to productivity.
Acas argues that employees could come in a little later or finish earlier and then agree when this time can be made up and be allowed to listen to events on the radio or watch the TV.
Chief executive Susan Clews said: ‘Paris 2024 will be an exciting event for many fans but staff should avoid getting disqualified for unreasonable demands or behaviour in the workplace during this period. For many businesses, maintaining a certain staffing level is critical in order to survive and sprint to that finish line.
The Eiffel Tower emblazoned with the Olympic rings for the Paris 2024 games. Conciliatory service Acas suggested businesses put agreements in place covering requests for time off, sickness absence or watching TV during the Paris Olympics which start next week
Chief executive Susan Clews (pictured) said: ‘Paris 2024 will be an exciting event for many sports fans but staff should avoid getting disqualified for unreasonable demands or behaviour in the workplace during this period’
Fewer than five days remain until the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024
‘Employers should have a set of simple workplace agreements in place before the starting gun goes off for the Olympic Games. These agreements can help ensure businesses remain productive while keeping staff happy too.’ Acas suggested employers could be more flexible when allowing staff time off, as well as reminding them their sickness and attendance policies will still apply during the Olympics.
But Charlie Mullins, founder of Pimlico Plumbers, said the advice was ‘ridiculous’ pointing out that a lot of people who work from home may be watching it already. ‘Would we allow our children not to go to school and watch TV? Of course we would not,’ he added. ‘Eventually employees will not want to work at all and still get paid. Any business that allows this to happen should not be in business and will eventually go bust.’
Billions around the globe are expected to tune in to watch the Games, which start on Friday.
More than 350,000 hours of TV will be broadcast during the two weeks of the Games.
Team GB has named a squad of 327 athletes and UK Sport has set a target of winning between 50 and 70 medals.
There will be live coverage of Paris 2024 across the BBC on TV, radio and online. The opening ceremony, which will take place on the banks of the River Seine, will be shown live on BBC One from 5.45pm on Friday.
The opening ceremony will be the first ever to take place outside of a stadium (Renders provided by On Location)
The Eiffel Tower at night. More than 350,000 hours of TV will be broadcast during the two weeks of the Games, which will see 10,500 athletes take part in 329 events
The opening ceremony will feature a 6km boat journey down the river Seine before amassing under the Eiffel Tower
First Dates star Fred Sirieix has joined the line-up of presenters for the BBC’s coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The French chef and TV personality shot to fame as the Maître d’ in the Channel 4 dating series following its launch in 2013.
He will join Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, Hazel Irvine, Isa Guha, Jeanette Kwakye, JJ Chalmers, and Mark Chapman on the BBC’s Paris presenting line-up.
