Natasha is a leading HR expert, entrepreneur, author and sought-after media commentator for outlets such as Sunrise (Channel 7), ABC Radio and The Australian Financial Review. Natasha co-founded Employee Matters in 2011 to help Australian businesses achieve success through their people.
Australia’s highly anticipated FIFA World Cup clash against Paraguay lands squarely in the middle of the workday at 12pm Friday AEST. With employers nationwide bracing for a wave of work-from-home requests and "Socceroos sickies" , Natasha Hawker, managing director of HR consultancy Employee Matters, recently shared her expert insights with SBS News on how businesses should handle the disruption.
Why the Socceroos' World Cup Run is a Win for Workplace Culture
Instead of fighting the football fever and worrying about a temporary dip in productivity, Hawker suggests that employers can actually use this national event to their advantage.
Here is why leaning into the midday match is a smart HR move:
A Culture-Building Win: Hawker views the tournament as a "huge opportunity from a cultural and team-building perspective".
Boosted Engagement: In a sporting-mad nation, employers can use the game to bring teams together, build engagement, and organically strengthen communication.
Proactive Bonding: Rather than policing absences, Hawker encourages businesses to actively organise workplace watch parties and invite staff to wear green and gold.
This flexible approach is even backed by the top levels of government, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging "common sense" and Treasurer Jim Chalmers noting that a lot of employers will understand if staff take "long-ish lunches" to celebrate a win.
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