While Jamaican athletes are preparing to showcase their talent on the world stage at the 29th Olympiad in Beijing, China, corporate Jamaica is doing its part to ensure that those employees who have not taken leave to stay home and watch the games, can catch a glimpse of their favourite athletes in action right at work.

Companies such as the National Housing Trust (NHT), Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) and Red Stripe, are all prepared to watch their countrymen in action at the Olympics, as they have their television sets ready and waiting.

Though not a direct correlation between employees taking leave and staying home just to watch the Olympics, there is a general consensus among the companies that the summer months are typically the most popular to take leave.

Sandra Willacey, employment and retention manager of the NHT says for the month of August 245 employees are taking leave.

Though not observing a particular trend relating to persons applying for vacation leave in order to watch the Olympics, Mitsy Samuels, human resources busi-ness partner, tells The Gleaner that the summer months are generally popular for vacationing, and many employees elect to use August to prepare children for the new school year, which begins in September.

June to September are peak months for people taking leave, as this is the time of year that the children are home and parents want to spend time with their children, according to Human Resources Manager, Kermit Grant of Red Stripe.

For those employees who will be at work during the games, there is no need to worry.

Strategic locations

The beer giant has television sets in the canteen and also in the company's sports bar, Vibes and other strategic locations, where employees can watch their favourite sporting event in the Olympics.

At the NHT, Willacey tells The Gleaner that some employees walk with their television sets to avoid the inconvenience of going to the canteen or any of the other locations where the equipment is placed.

JNBS employees are geared up for the Olympics and are excited and anticipating the best for the athletes, says, Mitsy Samuels, human resources business partner.

Employees can view the games at Café Oasis, the main lunch room at the mortgage bank's chief office in Kingston and some departments have television sets, Samuels added.