Can my boss reject my request for a day off work to watch the England Euro 2020 game?

ENGLAND beat Ukraine on Saturday, securing a place against Denmark in the Euro 2020 Semi-Finals in two days time.

Work wasn’t an issue for most football fans as the last game took place over the weekend, but the next match is on a Wednesday, so can Brits get a day off?

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Kick off isn’t until 8pm though, giving many fans time to finish up at work and head to the pub or home to catch the match.

But for some, 8pm will be in the middle or start of their shift.

And if all goes well, fans may want to think about taking the next day off as well to nurse sore heads.

For employers, there is no obligation to give staff the day off after the final and it will be the decision of individual businesses.

Danielle Parsons, an employment lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, previously told The Sun: “Employers are looking at more ways to retain and attract the top talent, and after the year that we’ve had the football is a really topic for people to bond over”.

Can you ask for the time off?

You’ve got nothing to lose by asking for the the day off on Wednesday to watch the game, or the day off on Thursday to recover from any celebrations.

For most of work places, time-off is at the discretion of your employer.

Some companies may take the opportunity to reward their workers with a day off – particularly following such a difficult year.

But it’s worth pointing out, the day off is not guaranteed until it’s been confirmed by your employer.

Workers must give notice before requesting holiday. The statutory notice period for taking leave is at least twice as long as the amount of leave a worker wants to take, plus 1 day.

So if you wanted to take Thursday off, the day after the game, you would need to ask your employer by the end of the day today.

It’s bit late to ask for Wednesday off but your employer may be willing to be flexible so it’s worth floating the idea.

If you’re planning a heavy night on Sunday July 11 for the finals and looking for Monday July 12 off work, you’ll need to ask for the time off by Thursday.

Can my boss reject the request?

Your employer can still refuse a leave request or cancel leave if you give as much notice as the amount of leave requested, plus one day.

You should also bear in mind that your employer may have their own rules about annual leave.

They may require a longer notice period or have restrictions on how many people on your team can be off at once.

Bill Richards, UK managing director at Indeed, previously said: “Football fans would be wise to have those conversations with their managers as soon as possible. 

“Although most 9-5 workers are entitled to 28 days’ paid annual leave a year — with part-time workers permitted to fewer days off — employers are not obliged to accept holiday requests and might take a dim view of last minute proposals.

“Employers should remember that while time off can help create a happy and therefore more productive workforce they risk a major own goal if they do not make their holiday policies inclusive and open to all.”

What are your rights on sick days?

It could be tempting to call in sick the day after the game, but if your employer suspects that you’re not genuinely ill because of the circumstances, there could be serious repercussions.

This could lead to disciplinary action and even dismissal.

Matt Gingell, managing partner of law firm Lombards, previously said: “Employers could take disciplinary action and it could amount to gross misconduct.”

However, the repercussions will depend on individual circumstances.

But if you are genuinely ill, you may be entitled to statutory sick pay (SSP).

If you qualify, you’ll get £96.35 per week, for up to 28 weeks.

To be eligible, you’ll need to earn an average of at least £120 per week.

Usually you need to have been sick for at least four days in a row – including non-working days.

Sick pay is one of the rights employees are entitled to as part of their contracts, along with others such as maternity or paternity leave, rest breaks and time off.

But if you’re self-employed or a contract worker, the rules about what you’re entitled to are different.

You can find out more about the rules for SSP and how to claim online.

Hungover Euro fans got creative with excuses to get out of work after the last game as they phoned in sick with “England Germany Covid variant”.

England boss Gareth Southgate says reaching just another semi-final is “not enough” though, as the team gear up to go all the way to the final.

Take a look at how England is likely to fare against Denmark at the next game, as we go over everything that’s happened since the two first met in September 1948.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk