Workplace Q&A
1 What actions may an employer take if:
a) an employee is absent from work without authorisation because they were watching the World Cup?
It will be treated as any other unauthorised absence and its consequences may vary from warning, salary deduction to termination, depending on the frequency of absences.
b) an employee submits a suspicious medical certificate or other rationale to justify a work absence where the employer suspects the employee is watching or attending the World Cup?
The same principle as above would apply.
c) the employer suspects an employee(s) of consuming alcohol at the workplace or within a proximate time before starting work; can an employer administer breathalysers in the workplace?
Pakistan is a Muslim country and consuming alcohol is prohibited by law for all Muslim employees. Breathalysers are not common in Pakistan even with law enforcement agencies. However, their use will not be illegal.
d) the employer wishes to rearrange the work hours for all employees to accommodate the viewing of particular matches, e.g. their country’s team?
Football is not big in Pakistan and Pakistan has never qualified for the World Cup. Rearranging work hours would be unnecessary, however, hypothetically this could be done with prior notice.
e) the employer suspects that employees are using company IT systems during work hours to watch matches (including the use of illegal streaming services) and/or to participate in gambling related to the World Cup (including illegal gambling)?
Company policy as applicable to other unauthorised uses would apply to such incidents as well.
f) an employee potentially misconducts themselves outside of working time either at a staff-organised World Cup event or an unorganised event?
It should be dealt with in accordance with company policy.
2 If a country declares a national holiday on the day the country’s team plays (or later for a celebration), are employees who work on those days entitled to overtime pay or time off in lieu etc?
3 Is it lawful for a company’s employees to conduct office pools at the workplace? Would there be any restrictions on the amount of money to enter or the amount of compensation awarded?
Not legal. Betting is prohibited by law .
4 May employers prohibit public displays of rival country team colours in the workplace?
5 Could an employer be subject to a discrimination claim if accommodations are given in respect of watching games played by one gender but not the other, or for watching certain nations’ games (e.g. home nation) but not others?
6 Any other advice you would give to employers in your jurisdiction ahead of the World Cup?
As mentioned above, football is not big in Pakistan. The biggest sport in Pakistan is cricket and even in cricket World Cup no special arrangements are made except to allow the employees to view matches during office hours as long as the work is not affected.