Can disappearing to watch Brazil's game give just cause? See what the CLT says
Brazil takes to the field this Monday (29), at 2pm (Brasília time), against Japan, in a match valid for the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. As the match takes place during business hours, the question arises among workers: could "disappearing" or interrupting activities to watch the Brazilian team result in dismissal for just cause?
The general rule is that game days in Brazil are considered normal working days, unless the government (Federal, State or Municipal) declares a holiday or optional period.
Without an official determination, the release to follow the match - whether working in person or from home office - is at the discretion of the company to grant or not this time off to employees.
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Article 482 of the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws) lists the reasons that constitute just cause for termination of the employment contract, including negligence in the performance of duties, acts of indiscipline or insubordination and job abandonment.
However, the application of just cause for the fact that the employee took a "break away" to watch the game is, in most cases, considered a disproportionate punishment.
In an interview with CNN Brasil, labor lawyer Viviane Castro Neves stated that just cause would only apply if the employee's attitude caused irreparable damage to the employer or third parties, which normally applies to risky or essential functions.
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"An example: someone who schedules a helicopter flight and can't stop for a minute. When it's time to play, he doesn't do what he's supposed to do and, for that reason, has an accident", said the lawyer.
For other cases that do not involve essential services, the infraction would, at most, result in a warning or suspension, and would not be serious enough to justify dismissal for just cause.
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Source: CNN