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World Cup failing to distract IT workers

Tuesday 22nd June 2010

Maybe it's the standard of the football so far - or perhaps something else - but World Cup fever is failing to reach UK IT departments.

That is the verdict of a survey by recruitment website The IT Job Board.

With only 14% of IT professionals having booked annual leave to watch the matches, and a mere 8% admitting they will call in sick to watch the England games, it seems that companies won’t suffer from issues relating to staff absenteeism.

The survey polled both IT staff and employers, and when it came to employee responses, nearly two-thirds (62%) said they won’t be watching any games during working hours.

More than half of respondents suggested that their viewing habits had changed over recent years – so there is bound to be an online surge during World Cup games, even if it is just to get a quick update on the latest scores.

Only 21% of respondents stated that their employers had put plans in place to enable them to watch key games during working hours. Some 15% also thought their companies were stricter this year than for the previous World Cup in 2006 – perhaps a reflection of the current economic climate and then need to maximise staff activity.

IT Job Board managing director Alex Farrell said: "It would be fair to say that a large number of commentators have suggested that – so far – the first round of the World Cup has failed to live up to expectations. It would seem that IT pros agree, with small numbers taking annual leave, and many showing their professionalism by not 'pulling sickies'.

"It’s positive to see that businesses have put measures in place, such as flexible working. But the results lead us to believe that absenteeism simply won’t pose a problem."

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Mike Jones

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