I have an internal soccer team who play against other companies in their own free time. How do you deal with injuries sustained in this hobby when they start to miss work due to the injuries?

Any injuries sustained during these types of events or hobbies, which result in an employee’s absence, should be dealt with under the company’s sickness and absence management policy (if available) as normal. These injuries should not be treated differently to any other injury or period of sickness.

The causes of this type of absence, however, may be within the control of the company and so, if the company feels that the soccer team injuries are causing too much undue inconvenience, it may consider stopping its employees participating in the soccer team. However, the employee relations aspects of this would have to be considered.

A good sickness and/or absence-management policy should