The US election is affecting Irish firms with 16 per cent of employees planning to take a day off work to follow the coverage, according to a survey released today.
The survey, conducted by employment law firm Peninsula Ireland, found that almost two in ten Irish workers have booked time off work tomorrow. It also found that almost half of employers are worried that absenteeism will increase due to the election.
A total of 527 employees and175 employers were surveyed by e-mail and telephone from Monday October 20th through Friday October 31st.
Alan Price, head of Peninsula Ireland said the election had "captured the imagination of Irish people".
"Employers have been very obliging allow staff to take holidays or come into work later. Naturally anyone taking the day off the work after the election is going to set alarm bells ringing in employer's minds," he said.
"But they must remember that there could be genuine reason for staff sickness and so they should not act in haste but instead ere on the side of caution and investigate the real reason for sickness."
Mr Price said some firms were providing a television or radio so staff could keep up with the results.