Firms brace themselves for mass 'sickies' during key England game

Record numbers of City workers will take sickies tomorrow as thousands skip work to watch England's crunch World Cup match against Slovenia.

Absenteeism in the capital is forecast to rise by more than 50 per cent over a "normal day" as workers watch what may prove to be England's last appearance in the 2010 tournament. They kick off at 3pm.

That would take the proportion not working, but not on holiday, to 8.3 per cent - about one worker in 12.

Experts put the huge rise in absenteeism down to employers' reluctance to lay on facilities for staff to watch the game. Malene Nielsen, managing director of HR consultants Absencecare, said: "At the last World Cup we saw a 22 per cent increase in absenteeism in our clients. This time round absenteeism has been substantially higher, and we are estimating that tomorrow's fixture may lead to around 56 per cent more absenteeism than usual."

A separate survey for the London Chamber of Commerce found that 62 per cent of London employers will not be making any special arrangements.

Larger companies are more likely to be lenient towards England fans with 50 per cent saying they will be allowed to watch. Peter Bishop, the chamber's deputy chief executive, said: "While many employers will be allowing staff to cheer on England, many companies, particularly small ones, simply cannot afford a drop in productivity."

Schools are also making provision for pupils wanting to watch the game.

About 400 pupils at Quintin Kynaston School in St John's Wood are expected to crowd into the drama centre and dining hall and at Tiffin boys' school in Kingston, lessons will finish at 2.30pm to allow pupils to get home in time.