The overwhelming majority of employers (86 per cent) say they won’t be allowing employees “time off” to watch Andy Murray’s pursuit of the Wimbledon Grand Slam title, according to figures released today by TV Licensing and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
However, separate figures suggest this won’t stop people tuning into the tournament:
7.1 million people, the largest audience of last year’s tournament, watched Murray’s performance in the 2010 semi-final in the middle of the working day.
Over half of the UK population tuned in (51 per cent) over the course of the competition.
6.8 million people watched matches live online during last year’s tournament.
Chances are that employees across the UK will be cheering on this year’s hopefuls from their desks. (Note: one TV Licence covers your whole office). “Wimbledon is a great British sporting occasion, which captures the nation’s attention for two weeks of the year. Employees following some of the nail-biting action at work, either at their computers or on TV screens around the office, can help build team spirit and morale across the workplace,” says Dr Jill Miller, research adviser at the CIPD. “We know that when employers allow flexibility at work, employees are more likely to ‘go the extra mile’.” Andy Murray will will learn his first round opponent at Wimbledon when the draw is made tomorrow morning. Five-time champion Bjorn Borg says this is Murray’s “best chance” of winning Wimbledon. No pressure, then.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.