State of Origin, World Cup passion not productivity concern

Last night’s perfect storm of State of Origin and Australia’s World Cup match against the Netherlands could see staff arriving to work today with blood shot eyes and little sleep, or they may not turning up at all. Helen Hull puts the issue of productivity in perspective.

After Australia’s America’s Cup win in 1983, Prime Minister Bob Hawke famously declared a public holiday during a television interview stating that “any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum”.

His thinking was that Australians had stayed up to watch our sporting achievements and he was proud of the way we had performed as a nation.

“It is not just what they have done for sport,” Mr Hawke said. “It shows that our technology, when applied, is equal to or better than any in the world. It is not restricted to people who watch sport but it is for all Australians to see just what Australians are capable of.”

The lesson being taught by the Prime Minister was that the need to celebrate would not interfere with productivity, as morale had been boosted for everyone in the country.

World Cup hosts Brazil have adopted “the Hawke philosophy”  by passing laws that allow workers to take the afternoon off every day that Brazil has a match and public holidays for host cities on game days.

Peter Fritz, Global Access Partners Managing Director, and founder of the First 5000 network said we have to put in perspective what life is and not just look at the bottom line.

“Life is about having fun and we don’t live for work alone. I agree with Bob Hawke when he said it was a momentous achievement which galvanised everybody. Life is a full time job, the job should not run life.

“A country having fun is the way a country should be. It’s not being careless or irresponsible in-fact it is the opposite. It is great we live in a country where we have passion that is a part of everyday life.

Peter described work is a part of a segment of activity which has its own rules. He said events like the World Cup should be looked at in perspective and bosses should not be too hard on their employees today.

“If a workplace is abused then things don’t work out, but that doesn’t happen too often and one should have a broad mind.

“Firms that have a holistic approach have better results than those that command and control narrow interests.

Peter said it is important to have a holistic approach to business and give staff breathing space to take control of their own schedule.

“People respond better to a regime where we are treated as adults rather than children who have to front up to school at a certain time.

“Responsible people make responsible decisions.”

Australia’s final world cup game, against Spain, will be played at 2.00am on Tuesday 24 June, however, the game is a “dead rubber” as neither team can progress from the group stage.