The Corporate Takeaway

It was a throwaway line said with a smile by an exisiting board member of a sporting organisation, but sadly those who were there to hear it all knew that there was more than an element of truth in it.

The line was along the lines of “I will only be hanging around until after the World Cup and then it will be someone else’s turn to enjoy the benefits.” The next World Cup event was not going to be this person’s first trip to the quadrennial event, paid for by the organisation that they represent.

When one links this comment to another quoted in a previous post by a senior manager at a World sporting body who complained of the fact that when he boarded a plane for work he turned right into economy while board members turned left into Business Class, one has to ask whether something has gone horribly wrong at the top end of sport.

After all organisations and their staff take their cues from their leaders. If those at the top behave inappropriately those beneath follow suit, as has been witnessed with FIFA and levels of administration within the game below the World body across the globe.

Maybe this behaviour is the reason that we are witnessing more and more staff within these organisations also taking, what is being perceived by many as liberties.

For example there was a recent case of a staff member taking leave in a country on their way to another country on business for the sporting organisation that they represent. Who paid the airfares for their holiday?  Even if they paid for their own accommodation it is still a major perk and one that is not afforded to all staff within the organisation. So how could such a thing be allowed and acceptable behaviour?

A number of sporting bodies have allowed staff that attend events such as the FIFA World Cup, The Olympic Games or similar events in a work capacity to remain in the host country post event for a holiday. To many there appears to be nothing wrong with this as the staff in most cases undoubtedly work extremely hard at the event, and deserve some downtime when it is all over.

However, should this really be seen as acceptable behaviour and permission given by their bosses? After all there are plenty of other staff within these organisations who find their jobs keep them tied to their desks in head office. They do not get their airfares to exotic locations paid for by their employer, so why should their colleagues? For example do the staff in accounts, human resources, or other staff in general administration roles who do not get the chance to travel with their jobs have their holidays paid for by their employers? They do not get the chance to stay on and take a holiday or even take leave on their way to a destination as they do not get the chance to travel. So is it fair that others are afforded such privileges? Surely these staff are as important to the whole organisation as those who are fortunate to have jobs that give them the opportunity to travel? So why are they treated differently?

Does this disparity come about simply because the management are not strong enough to stop staff taking leave on the way to, or post tournaments? Or is it because these senior Managers have taken their lead from their Board members and have in fact been taking leave while on business trips themselves?

Maybe if Board meetings did not coincide with major events and the board were given economy tickets and the option to pay for their own upgrade to business class, we would witness those taking on roles of influence, taking their position more seriously; looking at what they can contribute to the sport for its long term future instead of seeing what they can take from it for free.

Maybe with small changes such as this we would then start to see boards exerting pressure on on their CEO’s to adopt policies that prevent staff using the company to pay for their annual holidays abroad. There are plenty of companies outside of sport who do not allow staff travelling on business to commence leave while away on such a trip, so why should the business of sport be any different?

The behaviour at FIFA should have been a lesson for all that transparency, responsibility and accountability at all levels of sports management are the only way to keep those that you represent happy, and also position the sport you represent in a place where its future is healthy.

Why does a Board member have to be at a World Cup? If they want to go then surely they should buy a ticket like any other fan? If not, then the least they should have to do is have to declare what was paid for by the Governing body and the “gifts” received by each Board member should be a part of the annual report. There is no need today to be flown to board meetings, with numerous options to be a part of such a meeting remotely.

Sadly it is clear that many are not there to serve the game, they are there to serve themselves as the person quoted confirmed. Are these really the people you want steering your sport into the future?