Member Article

Football 1-0 UK Businesses: Unplanned Absence Spikes by More Than a Third Following Premier League Final

• Edays warns of the ‘winners’ hangover’ as we approach the month-long UEFA European Football Championship • Last minute absence to present companies with significant summer resourcing challenges

Data collected by Edays, the absence management company, has highlighted that unplanned employee absence spiked by more than a third following last week’s Premier League final.

After the Premier League final on Sunday 23rd May, UK businesses saw an increase of 34% in unplanned absence rates on Monday 24th May. The tense Sunday of wins and losses saw a dramatic end to the season with Leicester City missing out on the Champions League next year, and Arsenal also missing out on European football for the first time in 26 years. In comparison, the defeat of Manchester United to Villareal in the Europa League final on Wednesday 26th May had the opposite effect. Here the ‘winners’ hangover’ was less evident with absence rates falling below average (52%), and a disappointed fan base feeling deflated with not much to celebrate.

Looking ahead, The UEFA European Football Championship is due to begin on Friday 11th June, and with England firm favourites heading into the match against Croatia on Sunday 13th June, UK businesses need to plan ahead and prepare for last minute absences on Monday 14th.

Steve Arnold, Founder of Edays, commented: “It does not surprise me that a combination of the UK steadily opening back up and world events attracting people to socialise will see a spike in company absence levels. However, what does surprise me is how many businesses are not ready to tackle these resourcing issues that will likely come to light this month. As a proportion of our population still waits for a COVID-19 vaccine, we may also see a rise in cases of employees having to isolate themselves with social restrictions easing. On top of this, we can expect to see more seasonal illness and perhaps the occasional hangover from staff looking to celebrate and resume a sense of normality with the EUROs beginning in June. This data highlights what could be a worrying problem for business if they are unprepared.”

With two more group stage games already planned for England (Friday 18th and Tuesday 22nd), Edays will be monitoring the state of absence and the impact this has on the rate of absence amongst UK businesses. Companies that use intelligent tools to predict spikes in their workforces, are able to make the decision to increase staff headcounts, change shift patterns or adjust deadlines to accommodate.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Edays .