US Presidential election impacts UK workplace

- 17% of UK employees plan to take time off work in order to follow the American elections.

- 46% of UK employers are worried that absenteeism will increase due to the election

- 55% of UK workers admit to following the Presidential Election from the outset

Almost 2 in 10 UK workers will be following the developments of the US election overnight as many have booked time off work on Wednesday to compensate according to a survey conducted by employment law firm Peninsula. The survey shows that 17% of employees plan to take a day off work in order to follow the American elections.

Peninsulaís Managing Director, Peter Done said today, ìMany people in the UK are interested in the Presidential election, interested enough to book time off work and it's good to see obliging employers. This is the start of a new era and naturally it has everyone talking. The election has captured the imagination of people in the UK so much that a percentage of workers have chosen to watch unfolding events and take time off work to compensate for staying up throughout the night.î

ìEmployers have been very obliging allow staff to take holidays or come into work later. Naturally many employers themselves are also interested in the proceedings and will follow suit. Naturally anyone taking the day off the work after the election is going to set alarm bells ringing in employerís minds. But they must remember that there could be genuine reason for staff sickness and so they should not act in haste but instead ere on the side of caution and investigate the real reason for sickness. ì

Done concludes: ìSome UK firms that we have spoken to are embracing it a lot more than others and are allowing a TV or radio presence in the workplace as a way of keeping up to date with developments as well as channelling the buzz and excitement of the election, increasing morale and preventing any risk to absenteeism. Employers should be a little weary that some staff will be a little tired as a consequence of following overnight developments and consideration should be given to these individuals.î