Recent research has revealed that employers are unlikely to offer flexible working options during the Olympics.

Conducted by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), the survey found that just ten per cent of firms will be allowing their employees to work from home or organise their time in the office around the event.

However, Diana Bruce, senior policy liaison officer at the CIPP, noted that a number of workers do not know if they are allowed flexible time during the Games. Ms Bruce clarified that workers have the right to request the option, noting: “For an employee to be granted flexible working they will need to have worked at the organisation for at least 26 weeks and not to have made any previous requests for flexible working in the past 12 months.”

Ms Bruce noted that companies who opt out of flexible time will need to think carefully about putting policies in place to handle multiple annual leave requests. However, she did advocate offering the option to work different hours since this can boost staff morale, which can “only be good for business and allowing flexible working may well help to reduce the inevitable staff sickies” during such a major event.