The Olympic Games will start on 27 July 2012 and will carry on until 12 August 2012, followed by the Paralympic Games from 29 August to 9 September 2012. There are therefore many dates where employees will be visiting the games and associated events during this period.
The Olympic ticketing process created significant criticism from multiple interested parties, least of all the UK population, who felt that it was unfair. For employers however the results of this process have created a level of certainty that should allow detailed plans for staff holidays and authorised absence during this period to be drafted well ahead of July 2012.
With the Government predicting significant disruption to travel and communications, mobile networks and the internet during the period of the Olympics, it is essential that businesses use the fact that employees know the exact dates and times that they need to book holidays or request authorised absence in order to ensure that their business has the staff resources to continue to operate as normal.
Of course there may be an increase in unauthorised absence of sickness, in which case your policies and procedures need to be robust and applied consistently by management to all those concerned. With positive communication now with staff who have been lucky enough to secure tickets, this potential can easily be avoided to the benefit of both employee and employer.
So, what can you do to try to manage the absence levels though the Olympics?
With under a year to go, planning your business resources with the full input and cooperation of your staff and with all relevant procedures and policies in place, you should be able to enjoy this prestigious sporting spectacle, support your country, whilst also ensuring that business activity is not negatively impacted.
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