What Penalty Is Fair for World Cup Sick Days?

I read an article in The Telegraph today, John Timpson's management column. An employer asked how he might get around his staff thinking June and July will be one long holiday due to the World Cup?

John Timpson's advice was to be generous, even if you - the employer - hate football. He recommends installing a widescreen TV in the work place, in a social area/canteen and to run an office sweepstake and even encourage staff to come in wearing football shirts on big match days. John Timpson's theory is that by bringing football in to the office, you can come down hard on any fanatics who throw a sickie to watch the game at their local pub.

But what do you do as an employer if you make it football friendly but still people abuse work time?

And if the boot is on the other foot, and you're not given access to watching your national team play, what will you do?  This is, after all, just a sporting tournament - one that will no doubt end in disappointment - and you should think yourself lucky if you get the opportunity to listen to coverage on the radio?

What approach is your employer taking and what do you think is reasonable? At a time when a lot of companies have shed staff and are working with a reduced workforce, is it fair to expect to be able to have paid time to watch the footy?

And what should schools do? Should they stop lessons and televise the big matches in the school hall? 

How important is it to see England play?