The report estimates that the tournament could result in 2.5 million lost working days across the UK, with an economic cost of up to £875 million. It says the biggest disruption is likely after England’s first game, when supporters may face an early start after a late finish.
The risk appears highest among younger employees. The survey is said to have found that almost half of under-35s expect to call in sick after a match, while searches for excuses to miss work at short notice reportedly rose by more than 5,000% in the week before England’s opener.
Not every missed day will appear as a formal absence. The report says 61% of respondents planned to log on from home but do little once online, creating what it describes as “soft off days”.
That shifts the issue from staffing levels to output. Employers may have people technically available but working below capacity, particularly after evening fixtures and late-night celebrations.
The disruption could also produce a short-term boost for cafés and food outlets. The report projects an additional 5.2 million coffees and breakfasts, worth around £30 million in extra spending, as tired supporters try to manage the following morning.
The contrast is clear: reduced workplace output may coincide with increased consumer spending. Businesses could therefore face pressure on both sides of the equation-lower productivity internally and greater demand from customers.
The next test will come after England’s following evening fixture. Employers’ willingness to offer flexible starts or remote working may determine whether the tournament produces isolated absences or a wider pattern of lost productivity.