Late-night England matches set to disrupt working patterns
Late-night England World Cup matches are set to significantly disrupt younger workers’ routines, according to new research from Matrix Booking, with more than one in three (36%) of 18-24-year-olds saying they would either be less productive or choose to work from home the following day.
The study of 2,000 UK office workers found younger employees are significantly more likely than older age groups to change how they work after a late-night game. More than a quarter (27%) also said they would rearrange meetings or workloads after a late-night match.
Among 18–24-year-olds, one in five (21%) said they would start work later than usual after a late-night match, while one in seven (15%) admitted they would call in sick the next day – compared to just 4% of UK office workers overall. A further 12% said they would pretend to have a personal appointment so they could start work later, double the national average (6%).
The findings also reflect wider expectations around flexibility and work-life balance across the entire workforce. Nearly half (48%) of UK office workers said they would feel more positive about their employer if they were offered flexibility during major sporting or cultural events, such as the option to work remotely or start later the next day.
Adjusting work around major sporting and cultural events is already relatively common among UK workers. Nearly a third (30%) said they have changed their working hours or location at least once in the past 12 months to accommodate a major event, while 15% said they had done so two to three times. Among 18–24-year-olds, this behaviour is even more pronounced, with 30% making adjustments two to three times and a further 12% doing so four to five times.
The research also suggests major sporting events could influence office attendance, with more than two in five (42%) workers saying they would be more likely to go into the office if their employer was showing the match there. This rises significantly among 18–24-year-olds, with 58% saying they would be more likely to go in.
Regional differences were also evident in the findings, with London workers among the most likely to adjust their schedules following a late-night England match. Almost a third (29%) said they would choose to work from home the following day, while 26% would start work later than usual and 25% would rearrange meetings or workloads. As a result, over a third (31%) said they would be less likely to go into the office the next day.
By contrast, workers in Wales and the South West were among the least likely to say a late-night match would affect their working patterns, with half (50%) saying it would have no impact on how they work the next day. In Northern Ireland, 62% of workers would you be more likely to go into the office on a match day if their employer was showing the game there.
Karl Breeze, CEO at Matrix Booking, said: “Major cultural moments like the World Cup are increasingly influencing how people choose to work, particularly among younger employees who place a high value on flexibility and work-life balance.
“These events also present an opportunity for employers to think differently about workplace culture and office attendance. Organisations that can create more adaptable and responsive workplaces will be better placed to support their people and build stronger, more engaged teams.”
As hybrid working continues to evolve, moments like the World Cup are becoming a real-world test of how adaptable organisations are, and how closely workplace expectations align with the priorities of today’s workforce.
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