Bosses weigh flexible hours as England's 1am World Cup kickoff nears

As England’s 1am World Cup kickoff looms, UK employers are weighing flexible start times (some at 11:00 or later) and other arrangements to let staff watch the game and recover. While some industries like manufacturing and frontline retail may struggle with shifts, many firms are opting for leniency, unpaid or annual leave, or later starts. Government guidance urges common-sense and fair handling of requests, with advice from unions and Aubt Acas on managing time-off and scheduling to minimize productivity impact.