GOOOAAAALLLL!
That sound can be heard in any office building across America during this year’s FIFA World Cup, but employers are concerned that the festivities are taking away from worker productivity. Buster, a foreign-exchange trader in New York City who asked not to be identified, said he was scolded by his manager for wearing a Brazil shirt to the office.
According to Buster, his boss asked, “Are we not going to even care about being a professional anymore?”
Buster said he replied, “Aren’t we allowed to wear golf shirts in summer?”
His boss, according to Buster, retorted: “Exactly, it is a f****** golf shirt, not something you wear to work!”
Ouch! Who stole his World Cup spirit?
Despite there being a conservative dress code for the office, Buster said that all of the televisions have been tuned into the World Cup matches — and even some of his co-workers have been streaming it online while at work. You’d think that with everyone watching the boss might loosen up the straps, but that clearly wasn’t the case.
Over 50 percent of employees tuned in to watch or listen to the World Cup broadcasts this year, according to a poll by Captivate Network. Twenty-three percent of respondents said productivity has decreased due to the World Cup. Based on the average salary of employed adults and the typical viewing time at work during the World Cup over the past two weeks, approximately $1.68 billion will be lost in productivity in the U.S., according to Captivate Network.
That’s a lot of money. However, since Team USA made it to the next round on Thursday by default, bosses and supervisors will continue ‘losing money’ next week.
Here’s some helpful advice for the grumpy bosses, just get in the World Cup spirit — it makes the work day go by much faster.
SOURCE: ABC News | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
