The World Cup is causing human resource managers a headache as late nights and anxiety over match outcomes take their toll on employee productivity.
Internationally, as timing of games in South Africa conflicts with working hours due to time zone differences, some employees are taking time off or even calling in sick in order to catch up with the game.
According to Paul Kasimu, the Group Human Resources Director at Kenya Airways, problems that managers may expect to face include absenteeism, feigned sick offs, fatigue due to sitting up late and lack of sleep, reduced productivity and idleness, potential work place and road accidents, high medical costs, and work place conflicts due to split team loyalties.
Susan Omamo, a human resource manager at TNT, an international courier company, said that: “This can create a problem of managing staff whose attention is divided. It can lead to staff making mistakes on the job and reduced productivity within an organisation.”
She added: “It is very difficult to monitor staff because they have access to the internet, phones with radios, and other gadgets.”
Irene Kamau, Head of Talent, Learning and Development at Barclays East and West Africa, said: “We expect slightly lower productivity from those working.
There is also a significantly higher uptake of leave days.
“There is the occasional emotional impact, depending on whether one’s team wins or loses — the highs and lows of following the matches may cause higher levels of excitement at the job.”
Problems arise when companies try to stop employees from following the games.
“Companies have to embrace the World Cup spirit and this will increase productivity. You cannot take the World Cup away from staff,” said Ms Omamo.
“You need to find a way to encourage staff that they can follow the games as they work,” she added.
Managers can take control of the situation and reduce conflicts that may arise due to the event.
This may include putting up television screens in designated areas so that employees can keep up with the games as they work.
This may also reduce absenteeism for football fans who want to keep up with the games.
Mr Kasimu said companies should consider carrying out awareness campaigns at their premises regarding company policy in regard to the World Cup.
He said companies can also take practical steps like establishing common rooms for staff, providing electronic updates on the company intranet, establishing flexible working patterns, sponsoring staff to attend major events or study based on performance, and carrying out raffles for staff to attend events such as the World Cup.
Evening games
Ms Kamau said, “it is practical to consider a flexible work schedule while ensuring adequate cover of roles and responsibilities is provided.
“If offices have TV screens, scheduling time to watch early evening games can be organised as a team building activity and would avoid low productivity occasioned by employees leaving the office early to catch up with the championship.
Leave days also should be scheduled in advance to avoid a last minute rush of applications and the conflict that would ensue in determining which employee is entitled the rest.
Football related prizes
“It is good to leverage the excitement of the World Cup by implementing incentive schemes that provide football related prizes to drive up productivity and reward excellence.”
Some companies have resorted to sponsoring staff competitions in an effort to embrace the World Cup spirit.
According to Ms Omamo, TNT is running a competition where staff members in different countries are competing against each other in sales made during the season.
The sales team that brings in the highest revenue during the season will win cash prizes.
Kenya Airways has sponsored a campaign called Go Africa which promotes the World Cup, providing employees with T-shirts and raffles for passengers and cabin crew operating Johannesburg route.
T-shirts are won. The cabin crew has also been provided with two different T-shirts to wear during the season.
Ms Kamau said Barclays was running a Barclaycard promotion with eight winners to be flown to South Africa to watch the fete.
The company has converted part of its office space into an exclusive football viewing room – complete with several plasma flat-screen TV sets and jerseys of different participating teams.
Source: Daily Nation
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