Mike Maybury, managing director of Merton Group UK Ltd, has been hailed the 'best ever' boss after agreeing to give his entire company an extra day off if England win tonight's World Cup quarter-final against Norway. The Leicester-based cleaning and hygiene manufacturer employs 42 people and supplies over 4,500 locations across the UK and Ireland.
Inspiration from radio show
The decision was inspired by Dave Berry's call to action on his Absolute Radio breakfast show, following Scotland's World Cup game against Haiti, which prompted the Scottish government to grant a bank holiday due to its 2am kick-off. Maybury said: “Dave got me with his call to action. After listening to him firing up the nation I was hooked on the idea. Our Teams do a great job and work hard and it just felt like the only option. I may have underestimated the body of work required to make it happen slightly but when (not if) we win, everyone can enjoy an unexpected day in the sun to celebrate.”
Operational challenges
Despite the operational challenges of shutting down for a day, MGUK were caught up in the patriotism. Maybury initially joked on the radio that he had yet to tell the Chairman and owners about the plan, referencing the film Home Alone with Michael Jordan cutouts and record players to fool them. However, he has since confirmed that the Chairman are up to speed and aware, and he hasn't lost his seat at the table.
Employee wellbeing
The company believes that investing in employee wellbeing and creating positive workplace experiences is an important part of building a successful business. The proposed day off has already generated excitement among staff, many of whom will be watching the match and cheering on England. Chairman Phil Tipton added: "We're proud to be a Leicester business and proud of the fantastic team we have here. Success should be celebrated, whether it's in the workplace or on the football pitch, and we hope England give us all a reason to celebrate together."
Spot-the-Ball competition
To celebrate, MGUK have added a Spot-the-Ball competition to their website, offering a chance to win England kits, official Trionda balls, vouchers and more. England play Norway tonight at 10pm.
