Pictured above: Rachel Mills, employment lawyer at Robinsons Solicitors in St James Court, Friar Gate, Derby

Employers are being urged to protect themselves from possible staff shortages, unexpected absences and lower productivity when the football World Cup gets underway this week.

Rachel Mills, an employment lawyer at Robinsons Solicitors, St James Court, Friar Gate, Derby, said that the competition, which kicks off on Friday, is likely to bring with it a number of staffing issues.

The tournament takes place in South Africa, which is two hours ahead of UK time, meaning there is likely to be minimal disruptions compared to the Japan/Korea tournament in 2002, which saw kick-offs at six and eight in the morning.

However, a number of the games start at 12.30pm and some at 3pm, including England's third group game, against Slovenia, on June 23.

This has the potential to cause problems for employers, who may be faced with workers who want to finish early or request that they can watch the game at work.

And there is the likelihood that the evening kick-offs will result in some football-loving employees watching the game at the pub and nursing hangovers the next day, or ringing in sick.

Rachel said: "Statistics show that sickness leave always increases during a World Cup, so employers should ensure that they update and communicate their procedures for unauthorised absences and excessive sickness, as well as review their internet policy to cover people stopping work to check the scores over the internet.

"Kick-off times for the more important matches do not cause too much of a problem this time, although employers will have to decide what they are going to do for England's game against Slovenia.

"Employers may find creative ways of allowing staff access to the match which also assists with morale, such as allowing staff to finish early with agreement that time is made up on another date. However, this will not suit all employers and suitable measures should be taken to ensure productivity is maintained where possible."

Equally, Rachel added that employers should also ensure that they are fair to employees who are not interested in the World Cup.

She said: "Employers should take care to ensure that employees who are not football fans are treated equally and are not expected to work if others are allowed time off for the match."