Expert comment: exploring the economic and HR impact of England reaching the final of Euros 2024

Dr Tony Syme, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Head of the Finance and Economics subject group, University of Salford Business School:

“Sporting success brings tangible economic benefits. A pre-tournament survey conducted by GlobalData predicted that spending in the U.K. would increase by £2.75bn during the four weeks, with half expected to go towards food and drink.



“And that effect has become more pronounced as England has reached the knockout stages and their performances have improved. Around 40% of pubs extended licensing hours for England's semi-final against the Netherlands and supermarkets have reported alcohol and associated food sales to be brisk.



“Beyond the immediate spending effects of sporting success, there are economic benefits around the feel-good effects. Mood, motivation and productivity in the workplace have all been found to rise following sporting success. And it can also have a cohesive effect in terms of culture and national pride.



“But don't expect the effects to be long-lasting. The economy slowed and even went into downturn in the six months following England’s World Cup success. A similar slowing of economic growth followed England reaching the World Cup semi-final in 2018 and the Euro 2020 final in 2021. As in politics, a week is a long time in sport.”

Dr Jonathan Lord, Senior Lecturer in Human Resources Management and Employment Law, University of Salford Business School:

“England has reached the finals of the Euros again and HR (human resources) departments are likely to experience several impacts, presenting different challenges.

“There will likely be a surge in leave requests as employees seek to take time off to watch the match or recover from celebrations. This could include requests for annual leave, half days, or even last-minute sick leave, known as the post-match recovery.

“Therefore, HR will need to manage and approve leave requests quickly and efficiently, ensuring business operations are not disrupted by understaffing which can be tricky with only a few days’ notice.

“Another issue could be a decrease in productivity. Leading up to and following the match, there may be a noticeable dip in productivity. Employees might be distracted by discussions about the game or might be recovering from late-night celebrations.

“Conversely, England's success could boost overall morale and camaraderie in the workplace, leading to a more positive work environment. A study at the University of Warwick found that happiness led to a 12% spike in productivity, while unhappy workers proved 10% less productive.

“To accommodate employees, HR might need to consider flexible working hours or the option to work from home. This can help in balancing the needs of the business with employees' enthusiasm for the event. They could also organise viewing events at the workplace which are a good way to manage productivity, while still allowing employees to enjoy the match.

“If England wins, spontaneous celebrations might occur in the workplace. HR will need to set guidelines for appropriate conduct to ensure celebrations are inclusive and non-disruptive. If alcohol is involved in celebrations, HR should reinforce company policies regarding alcohol consumption at work.

“Overall, national sports victories can have a profound and multifaceted positive impact on staff morale, enhancing team spirit, engagement, job satisfaction, mental wellbeing, productivity, organisational loyalty and creativity. These benefits contribute to a more vibrant, motivated and cohesive workplace environment.”