The must-watch USA vs Belgium match takes place at 4 p.m., Tuesday — which is not smack in the middle of the day, but it is well before many of us can call it a day (usually). But this is not a usual day, so once again, we need to be creative to watch this highly anticipated match.
Will productivity take a dip as we get swept up in World Cup fever? Probably, but it may just be for a couple hours.
Forbes reported that according to InterCall, a Chicago-based provider of office conferencing services, conference minutes dropped by a total of 7 percent during the US vs Germany game. Tracking the match’s progression, InterCall found that conferencing dropped just 6 percent during the first half of the game, when neither team scored. But then after German Thomas Muller rebounded the ball and kicked a long drive into the bottom corner of the goal, minutes dropped more, down 10 percent. And then during the last five minutes of the game, as American fans held their breaths for the USA team to come from behind, conference minutes dropped 11.5 percent, according to InterCall. Thirty minutes after the game, conferencing volume returned to its usual level.
From starting early to taking a break from the day to (stealthy) playing hooky, here are some tips to watch the game without drawing a red card from the boss:
1. Go to work a little early, even a couple hours early. If there was ever a day to start at 7 a.m. (and leave at 3:30) this is it.
2. Telecommute. If you can skip a commute, lunch break and buckle down for the day, you can be efficient and clock out at 4 p.m. And if you are working at home and have zero commute, you simply need to walk to your TV at 4 p.m. — and game on. Major bonus: you can crack open a beer and drink it safely at home (no worries about drinking and driving).
3. If you unable to leave work, pack snacks and meet up in the break room for some game time and employee bonding. Wear your red-white-and-blue. And then work late.
4. Watch or listen online at ESPN.com. Just be ready to pick up the phone or look like you are really working when the boss walks by. You’re not breaking the rules. You’re just bending them – like Beckham.
5. If for some reason you are without internet access, you could get a (reliable) friend to text updates. Just remember if you are the office “working,” remember to put the phone on silent.
How are you watching the game?
