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An employment law expert is warning workers turning up late or taking a sick day after a Rugby World Cup game that their employers have no reason to treat them leniently.
University of Auckland law professor Bill Hodge made the comments after a union leader called on employers to be lenient with staff during the World Cup because most of the games are being played around midnight or the early hours of the morning.
Mr Hodge said there is nothing in the Employment Relations Act about workers staying up late to watch sporting events like the World Cup.
He said while some larger businesses may be able to cope with the odd worker taking time off or working flexible hours, small businesses - the main employer of New Zealanders - would not be able to plug staffing gaps so easily.
"The small employers have customers coming in at 8.30. They need someone there," Mr Hodge said.
He said the issue comes down to how good the relationship between the employee and employer is and whether or not the business can survive without a full staff.
"Does it mean that non-rugby fans carry New Zealand during this period?" Mr Hodge said.
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said employers need to realise that some workers will be "a little sluggish or some may call in sick" after watching a game of rugby late at night.
"We're saying, 'Just go easy'. People are going to get caught up in the fervour of the thing and we hope employers are more accommodating than they otherwise might be," Mr Little said.
He said it is the national game but conceded some small companies may struggle.
"However difficult it might be, they're just going to have to be accommodating. That doesn't mean to say they have to tolerate out-and-out breaches but people will be enthusiastic," Mr Little said.
He said although the tournament goes for over a month, it will likely be towards the last two weeks that people will want to stay up and watch the intense games.
