Employers are planning to play ball with football supporters desperate to get off work to watch World Cup matches over the coming weeks.
While they admit some level of absenteeism is inevitable, many large companies are attempting to facilitate staff by bringing in large television screens and streaming the matches onto desktop computers.
IBM, which employs 4,200 people from 60 nations in Blanchardstown and Mulhuddart, have spent weeks making sure their World Cup arrangements score highly with employees.
Each staff member will be allowed to watch three matches in the first round and a selection of matches in the following stages. As the company employs people from 22 of the qualifying 32 countries, it means that the box will be watched by staff almost every day of the tournament.
"There was no point ignoring the fact that there is huge interest in the World Cup," said Mr Rory Caren, communications manager. "We decided to try and marry our production needs with the desire of staff to follow the football."
Staff will watch the action on screens in the cafeteria and the company's internal television network.
However, as at most workplaces, celebrations they will be alcohol-free and anyone caught under the influence will be given the red card.
At the Intel plant in Leixlip, screens will be placed in five different locations in the company with seating for more than 2,000 of the company's 3,150 staff.
A skeleton crew will operate when the predominantly Irish staff down tools to watch Ireland play.
Media relations manager Ms Karina Howley said staff in the firm, which operates 24 hours a day, can tell supervisors which matches they want to see.
"We recognise that it is a really big deal, and giving them the opportunity to watch the matches will boost morale and increase camaraderie," she said.
Some employees won't even have to move from their desk to follow the games: in addition to showing the Ireland games on big screens, Microsoft plans to stream every single World Cup match onto the desktops of all personal computers.
Smaller companies are likely to find it more difficult to accomodate staff but some are trying to minimise the risk of employees "skiving" off by being flexible or turning a blind eye to extended lunch breaks.
At design agency Generations, managing director Sue O'Neill said she was bringing a TV into the office and laying on sandwiches.
"Some of the staff will come into work early to watch the World Cup or when it cuts into work time they will catch up when it is over," she said.
Ms O'Neill said she may even bring in a bottle of wine or two for staff to enjoy during the lunchtime matches.
According to a large taxi firm in Dublin, there will be enough drivers working during Ireland games to cope with demand, although that may come as a surprise to anyone who has tried in vain to find a cab when a big Manchester United match is on.
Mr Liam Casey, general manager of National Radio Cabs, said he expected 100-150 of the 220 drivers who normally work the day shift to be available for work.
"Taxi drivers are self employed so they can do what they want the same way bus or train drivers can go sick," he said.
"But we have sent a message around to our drivers asking them to keep our customers in mind and we are sure there will be a good turnout."