With the Quarter-Final winners battling it out in the Semi-Finals, we are about to reach the climax of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Water cooler conversations have been revolving around World Cup highlights and predictions of which country is going to win. As we wait with bated breath to see who will be the World Cup champion this year, it is unmistakably clear that there is a need for you to manage World Cup mania at work.

1. Encourage wise time management and allow flexible work arrangements

While there is understandably much hype surrounding the World Cup, work still goes on as usual and projects need to be completed. Encourage your employees to manage their time wisely at work.

If they wish to watch World Cup replays or commentaries, request that they utilise their allotted lunch hours or tea breaks to do so—work hours remain out of bounds. Communicate the importance of staying focused during their regular working hours and the consequences, if any, of not adhering to this policy.

At the same time, don’t be overly rigid and inflexible about the work arrangements of your employees. You have to strike a balance between maintaining overall productivity and supporting your employees’ well-being.

Consider granting the requests of your employees to adjust their work schedules accordingly. There can be an arrangement whereby your employees can come in slightly later to work when the matches are held in the wee hours of the morning—and leave later to compensate for the delayed start.

2. Organise World Cup-themed office activities

Since everyone is talking about the World Cup, why not embrace this opportunity to increase employee engagement and boost the morale of your employees? The World Cup can be an effective employee engagement tool if you ride on the waves of this mania.

It can be as simple as relaxing your company’s dress code and allowing your employees to come into the office wearing football jerseys. Give them an opportunity to represent their country or their favourite player for a week.

Other means to engage your employees during the World Cup include creating a common area in the office pantry where employees can gather to watch matches during their designated breaks. This common area can have a large projector screen where your employees can huddle together and watch the broadcasts. The pantry can also be stocked with disposable cups, plates and cutlery with football prints to enhance the festive atmosphere.

Moreover, the HR department can formally organise World Cup-themed office activities such as the creation of your company’s very own fantasy leagues. You can encourage participation in these office activities by offering certain football memorabilia as rewards.

3. Foster Camaraderie and Mutual Respect

Amidst all the World Cup cheer, there can be a tendency for festivities to take an overly boisterous turn. Remind your employees to be respectful of their colleagues even as they cheer on different teams—their friendly banter should not contain any hint of discrimination whatsoever. Graciousness is expected, both in victory and in defeat.

Last but not least, it is important not to alienate those employees who are not football fans. Some employees may not be interested in the World Cup—and they are entitled to their individual preferences. They should not be excluded just because they did not participate in the World Cup-themed office activities as enthusiastically as the rest.

By following these 3 tips on how to manage World Cup mania at work, you can make sure your employees are still successfully productive during the tournament whilst allowing them to let loose and have fun.

Looking to hire?
We’ve put together a comprehensive toolkit to help you successfully hire the right person for your open positions.

To receive Your Guide to Recruiting Top Talent, please fill in this Inquiry form and let us know in the Message Box!

Read more:
Recruitment Trends 2022: CNA938 Money Mind Speaks With Reeracoen CEO
7 Steps to Plan a Corporate Event