Work at the Office… Unless There’s a World Cup Match
Why some of the most vocal opponents of remote work are letting their employees do their jobs at home. Will it backfire?
For most of the past year, it looked like the where-to-work debate at US firms was settled. Then the world’s largest sports event came rolling in.
Companies in multiple cities hosting World Cup matches have told employees that they can work remotely during the monthlong tournament. The list of these firms includes some of the first organizations to demand that employees return to the office full-time after the pandemic. It’s a policy that many HR leaders say makes sense both for practical and motivational reasons. But it’s also one that experts say may backfire down the road, particularly among non-sports fans who are unhappy about the expenses, in both money and time, of commuting to work.
Transportation issues in host cities are one factor firms are considering. Indeed, transit officials in multiple locales have been warning for months that World Cup matches could cause delays not just for spectators but for nearly everyone. Many of the matches, which are taking place in 16 cities across the US, Mexico, and Canada, are being played during traditional weekday work hours. Even on off days, city centers have been flooded with tens of thousands of World Cup tourists. At the start of the event, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum mandated remote work for federal employees and suspended classes in Mexico City.
Not surprisingly, many firms in the US have followed suit. “It’s good business policy, recognizing that the tournament is going to cause significant headaches for commuting employees,” says Dennis Deans, Korn Ferry’s global human resources business partner. Other proponents point out that sports fans, wherever they’re based, are likely to be tuned into the matches and distracted; letting them stay at home can only improve morale.
But what about the people whose interest in soccer is no higher than table tennis; while the sport is growing in popularity in the US, only one in ten Americans identify as their favorite sport. And it’s not just soccer fans who prefer to work from home—surveys show that a majority of workers do, and rising gas prices have only made the cost of coming to the office higher. Indeed, according to the Korn Ferry Workforce 2025 survey, of the 59% of global employees who are working full-time in the office, only 19% actually want to be there. For their part, parents say that even hybrid arrangements don’t allow them enough flexibility when their children are at home. "When companies that have resisted remote work suddenly embrace it for the World Cup, it may boost morale, but it raises questions about equity,” says Ronald Porter, Korn Ferry senior client partner specializing in human resources.
To be sure, the World Cup lasts only until July 19th, after which firms will probably start trimming back on the relaxed rules. Still, critics say, memories can be long when an employee has a long haul into the office. Experts worry that many organizations that were trying to put the remote-work era behind them may face some backlash for a while. “In some fields, it’s like remote work never happened,” says Lucy Bosworth, a Korn Ferry senior client partner.
For her part, Korn Ferry Commercial Development Leader Cindy Comisky understands the move, even if she’s not a soccer fan. “I hope to get continued grace through next year’s Rugby World Cup!”
Learn more about Korn Ferry’s Employee Experience capabilities.
