Scotland Declares June 15 Bank Holiday for First World Cup Since 1998 as Employers Brace for 1.5 Million Sickies
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 9
Scotland Declares June 15 Bank Holiday for First World Cup Since 1998 as Employers Brace for 1.5 Million Sickies
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 9
Summary
June 15 will be a one-off bank holiday in Scotland to mark the national team’s first World Cup appearance since 1998, with NHS Scotland staff and Scottish government employees entitled to the day off.
Local councils can opt in or out and private employers are not required to close, leaving many fans to rely on annual leave, later starts or working from home around Scotland’s 2300 and 0200 BST kick-offs.
1.5 million UK workers are expected to call in sick during the tournament, according to BrightHR, which forecasts more than 2.3 million extra sickness absences.
£681 million in lost productivity could hit UK employers, UKG estimates, prompting HR advisers and some companies to push flexible scheduling and early leave requests instead of unplanned absences.
Pubs in Scotland will also get extended opening hours for England and Scotland knockout matches, underscoring how the tournament is reshaping work and leisure plans beyond the holiday itself.