'Start work at 11' - but will other bosses be as flexible over England's 1am match?

As World Cup fever builds ahead of England's 1am match against Mexico on Monday, businesses are scrambling to decide how to handle the day after.

Joshua Elash, who runs London-based MT Finance Group, is allowing his staff to start work at 11am. "It wasn't a dilemma at all. This was as close to a no-brainer as a business can get," he says. "We're a finance company so we think it's important and critical that everybody is in and communicating and working together in real time." Normally all 125 staff would be in the office at 08:45 or 09:00, but that won't be the case this Monday. "It's good for morale," he says. "Some things are more important than, you know, a day's revenue."

Employers are being urged to use their common sense. The TUC says bosses should where possible allow staff to work from home, start later or swap shifts. John Palmer, senior advisor at Acas, says firms must treat requests fairly, though employees should be aware it might not be possible to book time off at short notice.

Some industries cannot offer flexibility. The British Chambers of Commerce says businesses where this will be challenging include manufacturing, production lines, frontline retail and hospitality. Sainsbury's and Aldi say it will be business as usual on Monday.

Schools are taking flexible approaches. Cottingham High School in East Yorkshire will allow pupils arriving up to 11:25am to be marked as present. Kevin Rowlands, head teacher at Winterton Community Academy in North Lincolnshire, said his school has taken a flexible approach.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has backed watching the match. "Write an excuse for school and let them watch football," he said. "Come on, there's so much school to go to but we'll have this every four years. Let them watch."