BBC staff get to watch telly

BBC heads have ordered executives to give staff time off to watch crucial World Cup matches. And, along with the special dispensation for all workers to see the games, the bosses have asked for viewing areas to be set up.

An email sent by Steve Wallis, the head of production for the BBC's General Factual Unit, said that, on the assumption everyone was as excited about the World Cup as the company's chiefs, employees should be given as much flexibility as possible.

He said: "Unless there is a requirement for staff to be in meetings, at their desks or on location, we want staff to be allowed to manage their workload around [match] times and dates as they wish."

However, many BBC employees are unimpressed by the move. One source said that allowing whole departments to effectively shut down for hours would disrupt important projects.

Some licence payers may be less than amused to learn that their money is being used to allow staff to take time off.

But a BBC spokesperson yesterday said the company was happy for employees to keep up with the games, saying: "It is not a question of people going off to watch a game. They can watch on the screens near where they work but we are trying to take a laid-back approach to the World Cup and get in the spirit of things."