Fans staying up all night to watch the America's Cup should be given some leeway for being tired this week, a business leader says.
Michael Barnett, Chief Executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, said bosses should be flexible with employees who are keen on the race as"people are hugely passionate about it."
He said his point is not just about the Cup but being open to allowing some freedom in general, and just happens to crop up while the event is on.
"The same thing applies for mothers who have young children," he said.
Racing starts at 1am NZT and more than 200,000 viewers tuned in on Sunday.
Today was a rest day but Team New Zealand are back on the water tomorrow for the third of the best of nine series.
"It's all about flexibility," Mr Barnett said. "As an employer you can get yourself too closed off in a box."
He said you cannot just think of an employee as an "8-5 person".
He said: "You have to think 9-3 or 10-4."
He says that the race is "good fun stuff" and employers shouldn't sweat it.
"To me it's no different if I had an employee who wanted to come in a bit later."
When Australia's yacht, Australia II, won the America's cup in 1983, then Prime Minister Bob Hawke famously said that "any boss who sacks anyone for missing work today is a bum".
