Acas encourages employers to offer flexible working for Olympics

Employers need to consider more flexible working arrangements to ensure their businesses run smoothly during the Olympics, according to advice issued by Acas today.

The guidance deals both with employees who plan to take time off to volunteer for or attend the Olympics and those who may want to watch coverage at work, may be upset at perceived favouritism to colleagues who are into sport or want to take leave during the school holidays.

It advises employers to talk to the employees about their plans and keep their policy simple, such as using a first come, first served model. Acas says it may help to draw up guidelines. It counsels using flexible working, even if only as a short-term measure.

It adds that there might be problems around staff watching lengthy coverage on their computers and advises perhaps giving staff access to a tv during agreed times. On volunteering, it says employers need to be aware of the rights of staff who are volunteering and to be aware that having volunteers might benefit their business since it will give employees' extra skills. It says employers need to decide whether they want to match an employee's leave with special leave for volunteering at the Games.