Comments for Law Donut blog

Comment on It’s kicking off for employers… by markthook

markthook — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:33:15 +0000

I understand Fan that not everyone enjoys football, but you can never please everybody. This doesn’t mean employers shouldn’t try on special occasions to reward their employees.

After the recession and (what seemed) like never-ending snow during the winter people need a bit of a lift. In June the World Cup may put a bit of bounce back into the nations step. Employers should look to take advantage of this ‘feel good factor’ because it can be used to boost their business.

Comment on It’s kicking off for employers… by Georgina Harris

Georgina Harris — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:06:13 +0000

While I’m not exactly a footer fan myself (Formula 1 every time), I do love the cheeriness and general jollity that springs up at work on match days. Even us football dunces summon up a lot of good feeling at these times.

Couldn’t we make the most of that? Organising a sweepstake at work makes everyone feel involved. Or allowing everyone to leave 10 minutes early to head to the biggest local TV screen (probably in a hostelry) gives us all a treat.

Teamworking isn’t just for the first eleven – we can use it to boost the business too.

Comment on It’s kicking off for employers… by Simonw

Simonw — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:40:50 +0000

I’m going to book some leave during the Olympics and get myself to the velodrome. But I wouldn’t expect to be given time off in the middle of a working day to watch an event. Coverage is so all-pervasive these days anyway that most people will be able to keep track of it via their PC/laptop/radio/phone and then watch the highlights package on the BBC later on. My point is that if it’s really that important to you, take the time as leave – don’t expect your employer (and fellow employees who are not into sport) to subsidise you. Yes, football is our”national” sport, but all that means is that a larger minority are into it than are into other activities. It does not mean that 99 per cent of the population are going to stop everything to watch a goal being scored. Even if England, by some miracle, get to the final, less than half the population will actually watch the game. There’s no majority there – that’s just a media illusion.

Comment on It’s kicking off for employers… by Fanny Marshall

Fanny Marshall — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:16:50 +0000

Martin’s idea is fine, if you can keep tabs on who’s doing what or you really trust your employees. Also, Mark, not everyone sees going to watch football as a reward (quite the opposite for some of us). Simon, will you change your tune in two years time for the Olympics? Interesting debate though…

Comment on It’s kicking off for employers… by clarerwbullock

clarerwbullock — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:09:42 +0000

I’m not really into sport, but I just LOVE music festivals… can I have time off to get to Glasto early please?! (only kidding, it’s not like I have tickets *sob*)

Comment on It’s kicking off for employers… by markthook

markthook — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:07:41 +0000

You’ve answered your own question Simon. It’s our national sport, whether you personally enjoy it or not the fact remains that millions care about the fate of the England football team in South Africa and their success (or probable failure) will have an affect on the morale on the nation if only for a couple of days.

Employers should be aware of this, and attempt to be flexible as they can, as they should with any event (sporting or not) which is likely to catch the nations fervor.

Sometimes it’s good for employees and employers to step back from the daily grind and have a reason to join together in celebration if only for 90 minutes. It would be a shame to miss that opportunity because we’re too pre-occupied with responding to an email or working through a pile of work.

Comment on It’s kicking off for employers… by Simonw

Simonw — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:44:55 +0000

I’m not particularly interested in the World Cup or football, but I love cycling. Can I have time off to watch the Tour de France? What about the hockey world cup that’s on at the moment – I wonder how many employers dealt with requests to watch England play Germany in the semi-final this afternoon? Oh, and there’s the athletics world championships – I’d love to watch Dwain Chambers powering down the track in the middle of the afternoon. What’s that you say – “These are minority sports and football is our national game”? Does that really matter? It’s a football match. Get on with your jobs. Why do we have this hysterical charade every four years?

Comment on It’s kicking off for employers… by markthook

markthook — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:39:27 +0000

With it being just the one game, you could reward hard-working employees by simply letting them watch the match?

It would result in an immediate increase in morale and think how much more productive and motivated employees will be in the aftermath of the game, once we’ve (hopefully) qualified from the group…

Otherwise I agree with Martin. Be flexible and let employees start or finish earlier/later. Problem solved for everybody.

Comment on More leave for working mums – the right way forward? by Mike Durlston

Mike Durlston — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:57:08 +0000

The suggestion in my entry is not that the ‘rights’ are ‘wrong’, more a case of can the smaller firms afford the ‘rights’? It is, unfortunately for many, a matter of surviving short term economics, aka cashflow, that is essential to longer term sustainability and stability for employees and employer alike.
As a rather black and white example (and forgive me for leaving out all the shades of grey) Tesco with its might can batter its suppliers into the ground to create its sutainable and profitable environment. The Tesco supplier who has less control over its market sees margin disappear but costs (such as ‘rights’) must be met or the supplier will soon meet the tribunal or bank manager and closure.
Of course this does not apply to all situations. But small businesses often seem to have more than straightforward market obstacles in the way of stability.
As an example of extension, perhaps this is why so many entrepreneurs now look to licence their innovation rather than market themselves, ie let others carry the burden. And that often means jobs created in other territories, not the territory of the innovator. No jobs, no ‘rights’.
First-time and early entrepreneurs do face the fear of unquantifiable risk in an increasing array of business areas. ‘Rights’ are right but what a shame they financially challenge so many otherwise good businesses before they have the chance to mature and then afford such reponsibilities. Or do we say: tough luck, chum, you should never have had a go?
Back to my original entry: my line was simply to enquire if there is evidence of some form of balance between SME footprint (successful and unsuccessful) in the different social approaches of nations as we have in Northern Europe, ie Denmark versus UK. It would be interesting to compare records of SME innovation and sustainablity in these nations set against how ‘rights’ are sustained and paid for – ie greater tax funded (government) or direct (employer) contribution.
I have been an employer, currently I am not. That, I consider, is a shame.

Comment on It’s kicking off for employers… by Martin Read

Martin Read — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:41:32 +0000

If there’s an afternoon kick-off, how about simply extending the working day for a couple of hours? Employees will appreciate the flexibility and any potential absenteeism will be reduced.

When England played Argentina on a Friday lunchtime, all I did was take twice the normal lunch break and work on for an extra hour.

Of course, if you go down that path you might consider putting a telly up in the office so that employees stay on the premises to watch the match – with all the legal considerations that would doubtless pose.