The European Football Championship begins on June 11, 2021, and will be the number one topic of conversation over the next four weeks. The Chamber of Labor (AK) advises employees to clarify with their employers in advance what is and is not allowed during working hours. This is important because they could risk their job if they watch TV, listen to the radio or consume alcohol during working hours without their employer's permission. AK President Andreas Stangl therefore recommends clarifying the rules beforehand to avoid conflicts and employment law consequences.
If employees want to watch live games during working hours, they should discuss this with their employers in advance to find a solution that is acceptable to everyone and does not affect the working atmosphere or work performance. In most jobs, watching television at work is not permitted, so employees who want to watch football at work must first clarify this with their superiors. In bars or betting shops where watching television during working hours is part of the job, no additional consent is required. However, problems can arise if the required work performance is not achieved due to the distraction of the football game.
If listening to the radio during working hours is permitted, employees can also listen to the games on the radio as long as this does not affect work performance and does not disturb other employees or customers. When using the Internet for personal purposes during working hours, employees can access the game results online, but following an entire game via live stream can be problematic as it could affect work performance and put a strain on server performance.
In order to be able to follow the European Championship more closely, employees should agree on time off or vacation with their employers. Unilaterally taking time off without agreement is not permitted. With regard to alcohol consumption during work, the generally applicable agreements apply. If there is a ban on alcohol, this ban also applies during the European Championship and for joint football events in the company.
The question of whether the workplace can be decorated with flags or whether working in a football kit is permitted depends on the type of workplace and the activity. In jobs that involve customer contact, the employer can prohibit the wearing of fan clothing or similar items. It is advisable to clarify this with your supervisor in advance.
In an article from www.ots.at, AK President Andreas Stangl stresses that certain rules of the game must be observed during the European Football Championship, both in the stadium and at work. Like many other Upper Austrians, he is keeping his fingers crossed for the Austrian national team.
Source: die-nachrichten.at
