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'Millions plan World Cup sickies'

LONDON, England (CNN) -- One in 10 British workers plan to take sick days to watch the World Cup while 16 percent plan to book time off, a survey suggests.

Seven million people could be off absent on match days. And nearly a third of staff who will be at work say their minds will be distracted, say researchers.

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The London human resources firm, E-peopleserve, that published Thursday's survey of 1,000 people aged 16-65, says companies must face the fact that their staff will want to watch the games and plan accordingly. For Europe, most games will kick off at breakfast time or late morning.

Poor staff attendance, productivity levels and morale could cost British businesses billions of pounds, it warns.

David Williams, the firm's European Chief Operations Officer, told CNN: "It's going to put pressure on firms -- they will have to work out how they will accommodate it. What they don't want is uncontrolled sick leave. Bringing televisions into the office is the best way to do it."

One bank in Nottingham, central England, is installing big screens so that hundreds of its staff can watch the games at work.

The screens are being put up in meeting rooms. Colleagues who hate football will be offered quiet World Cup-free zones.

"It's good for morale. We have an honest relationship with staff, we were not expecting a glut of fake illnesses but the World Cup is just so popular," said Richard Holmes of Capital One, which employs 2,200 people in its Nottingham office.

The company is asking for volunteers to man the phones while football fans watch all the games involving England and the Republic of Ireland, which kick off in the morning UK time. It says customers will not suffer.

"We will maintain the 24/7 service so we're asking for volunteers to stay on the phones," said Holmes. "The rate of incoming calls during the games probably won't be as great."

The scheme has the blessing of the company's bosses, based in Richmond, Virginia. "Our president is English and a big football fan," added Holmes.