The union Amicus has been red-carded for advising workers on how to pull a sickie in order to watch England play Trinidad and Tobago. While kick-off is late in the working day (1700 BST) for nine-to-fivers, rare is the World Cup fan prepared to wait until then to bag a vantage point.

So how to keep up with the action while keeping the managers sweet (assuming they're not "working from home").

Scotland, too, is gearing up

1. Get online - our sport website streams every BBC TV game live, allowing broadband-connected workers in the UK to watch at their desks. IT firms have duly warned that corporate networks might grind to a halt and, aware that some companies might wish to prevent this, the BBC has published the URLs carrying live streams for IT managers asked to restrict access. For those into delayed gratification, TV viewers can replay the match during the evening at the touch of a red button.

2. Bring in a radio. It may seem a tad old-fashioned in a world of high-definition television and live streaming over the internet, but the radio has long been the traditional back-up for football fans unable to watch a match. If your boss needs some persuading tell him it's a solution endorsed by Investors in People, an independent body which sets and measures employment standards.

3. Get a buddy system going. Make friends with those in the office who don't like football - they're the ones who think Rooney's fortunes were inextricably tied to Judy Garland's - and get them to cover your shift and offer to do the same for them when they want time off, maybe to watch tennis, go shopping or go to their kid's school sports day.

4. Team building exercises are all the rage. Suggest to management that allowing people to watch the England match together would be a great team building opportunity. As the union Amicus quite rightly points out, it's a lot cheaper than an away day.

5. Watch at work, on a TV provided by the company. Another team building opportunity, and a way for bosses to avoid the problem of absences while boosting morale and employee relations. A big screen in the corner of a conference room may not have the atmosphere of watching down the pub (even if libation is laid on), but if enough people pile along, you can make your own atmosphere.

WORLD CUP-ITIS Four out of 10 football fans took 'sickie' during 2002 World Cup This cost business about �390m 13% of men - and 4% of women - called in sick to watch a match, or recover from post-game drinking This rose to 16% among men and women aged 18-29 Send us your stories

6. Work through lunch and leave early, if the boss agrees. With a goal in mind - finishing in time for kick-off - workers may even be more productive in the time available. "We're allowed to leave a little early for the 5pm games, provided we make up the time," says reader Bruce Castle, of London.

7. And suggest flexible hours, at least during the tournament, so employees can make up time. A recognised business tool, this is known as the "peakie" system. Investors in People also advises employers to extend break times during matches, and suggests a rota for finishing early so that everyone knows they'll get their chance.

8. Take annual leave on match day (ok, you might be a bit late for this option). But be prepared for a knock-back if too many others want the same day off. Richard Smith, employment services director at Croner consultancy, says companies need a fair system for granting leave, such as random selection or on a first-come-first-served basis.

9. Keeping non-footie fans happy is vital - for managers as well as lovers of the beautiful game. They are the people who will cover shifts and hold the fort as everyone else settles down for kick-off. Keeping them motivated by offering similar perks is a good idea, says Investors in People. TV access during Wimbledon anyone?

10. Be self-employed. Then you only have to ask yourself for time off. As reader Gareth Haman from Edinburgh says: "My boss lets me take as much time off as I like to watch the World Cup - he's even happy for me to sit and have a beer in the office. Oh, did I mention I was self-employed?"