WE’RE WFH ( That’s watching, not working, from home )

Off ice workers down tools as nation comes to a standstill for opening match

SCOTLAND will come to a standstill tomorrow as football fans cheer on the national team in their first major tournament for more than 20 years.

At 2pm, as Scotland’s first match of the delayed Euro 2020 competition kicks off, millions are expected to down tools and watch the game.

With hundreds of thousands of office staff still required to work remotely because of coronavirus restrictions, the opportunities for skiving off are greater than usual.

As a result, employers have had to accept that phone calls will go unanswered, laptops will be abandoned and jobs will be put on hold as Working From Home becomes Watching From Home.

Scotland’s clash with the Czech Republic at Hampden marks the country’s return to the top level of international football for the first time since the 1998 World Cup.

But for pubs it also marks a joyful opportunity to boost trade after months of enforced closure because of the pandemic. During a bumper Monday for the pub trade, fans are expected to sink about 800,000 pints.

For school pupils – who are all too young to have witnessed Scotland in top-flight action before – permission to watch the game is likely to prove a

‘Common sense needs to be the winner in the workplace’

lottery, as different council areas are implementing different rules.

About 3,000 supporters will be able to watch the match at the Fan Zone on Glasgow Green.

Luckiest of all are the fans – Scots and Czechs – who have secured tickets for Hampden. The match is the biggest legal event staged in Scotland since the pandemic began, even though only 12,000 of the stadium’s 51,000 seats will be filled.

Yesterday, Hamish Husband, spokesman for the West of Scotland Tartan Army, summed up the nation’s hopes that the game would herald a return to normality for society and a glorious future for Scottish football.

He said: ‘How do you encapsulate the excitement? Hopefully we’re entering the “new normal”. And hopefully the new normal is that Scotland might qualify [for the knockout stages]. The important thing is to be in the ground with the tartan on, cheering them on.’

The game is being screened on BBC and ITV, either on television or through their internet services.

For office staff who are still adhering to the government guidance to ‘work from home where possible’, the temptation to turn on the television during working hours is sure to be strong.

The Scottish Federation of Small

Businesses agreed that many employers will be expecting the workrate to dip as staff tune in.

Colin Borland said: ‘After what has been a really grim year and a half with very little to look forward to, it’s little wonder that the Euros have lifted the public mood.

‘Regardless of what happens on the park, common sense needs to be the winner in the workplace and the key for employers has to be collaboration with their employees.

‘But, given how we’ve all risen to the huge challenges of working and managing during lockdown, it won’t be beyond us to arrive at a smart solution that lets us get the job done while backing the national side.’

Covid restrictions coupled with the requirement to self-isolate for ten days after arriving in the country have discouraged Czechs from flying to Scotland for the game.

As a result, the away team’s support is mostly made up of Czechs living in Scotland – leading to divided loyalties.

Marek Holko, 26, from Edinburgh, will be at Hampden with his wife Anna, 24. He said: ‘If Scotland were playing any other team we would be supporting them.

‘But it will be a different story on Friday night. Anna and I will both be hoping you beat the English.’

The Czech ambassador will also be at the game. Diplomat Libor Secka said: ‘I expect a tough match between two great teams. On the other hand, it is also a good opportunity to remind us about the friendly ties between our countries.’

Schools face a dilemma over the game, as the game falls at the end of an academic year that has been disrupted by Covid. A snap Scottish

Mail on Sunday survey highlighted varied views around the country.

Western Isles Council is encouraging pupils to watch the match, saying: ‘We are more than happy to allow pupils to cheer Scotland on.’

In contrast Midlothian Council said: ‘We’re not advocating pupils being permitted to watch the game,’ while Dumfries and Galloway Council warned: ‘Schools are expected to operate normally.’

However, South Ayrshire secondary pupils will be enjoying an inservice day, meaning they will be at home and free to watch the game.

At Glasgow Green, the Fan Zone’s 6,000 spaces each day will be split in two sessions at tables of no more than six people.

Food and drink is ordered using smartphones, but with no alcohol in the family areas.

Pubs are looking forward to their busiest day since lockdown curbs eased. The Scottish Beer and Pub Association predicted 800,000 pints

‘Nothing beats watching the football at the pub’

will be sold tomorrow in Scotland, including 360,000 during the game.

Chief executive Emma McClarkin said: ‘Nothing beats watching the football at the pub.

‘It’s time for the restrictions on our freedoms to be replaced by the protection of the vaccination and for businesses and life to get back to normal.’

At the Chieftain Hotel in Inverness, the outdoor area has been decorated to resemble a football pitch. Kerri Love said: ‘We are showing all the games and looking forward to supporting Scotland.’