KEY POINTS:
The Beijing Olympics were watched by more New Zealanders than any other television event. 3,566,300 tuned into TV ONE's coverage, surpassing the audience for the 2004 Athens Olympics by 145,000.
The Olympics were particularly popular among those of working age. 92.5% of 25-54 year-olds tuned in to the Games. Of course, many of those would have been watching during the prime time evening slots, rather than during the "normal" working day (for those who have one) - or during the early hours.
But there were plenty of bleary-eyed people each morning wandering down Lambton Quay headed for their favourite coffee spot, and there can't be many who didn't follow the latest online news at some point. One survey apparently found that the economy will lose nearly $15m as a result of the working hours lost due to the Games.
Websites were full of guidance to employers on how to cope with this supposedly disastrous lack of productivity. This ranged from the tough approach - restating annual leave and disciplinary policies before the events began - to encouraging employees to come to work by allowing radios or TVs into the workplace.
It was said that staff of other nationalities should be accommodated when they want to follow their respective countries' progress, and even the non-believers could be catered for by allowing them time off at a later date.
But people taking a day off here and there, or using their work PC to catch up on what's happening via the internet, is not exactly a new phenomenon. Cricket websites have long had desktop scoreboards that tick over at the bottom of the screen so people don't even have to keep refreshing the page concerned. And during the 2006 football World Cup, one UK poll showed that 13% of men and 4% of women had called in sick either to watch or recover from a match.
With fake medical certificates now freely available on the internet, it's easier than ever to enjoy a lazy day at home in front of the box, without losing a day's pay.
Do you know anyone who pulled a sickie during the Games? And did they get away with it?
Greg Cain
Greg Cain is an employment lawyer at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts.
Photo / Kenny Rodger
