Charly Gillespie-Smith, the founder and CEO of London-based social media agency Lasting Lemons, has faced a wave of online criticism after offering employees a later start time following England's World Cup match against Mexico. The policy allowed staff to arrive at 11am instead of the usual 9:30am if they provided photographic evidence that they had watched the game.
Online backlash and accusations of 'rage bait'
The offer quickly went viral on social media, drawing harsh comments from users who accused the CEO of attention-seeking. One person wrote: 'Got to be rage bait.' Another added: 'Virtue signalling at its best.' A third commenter said: 'What a strange email.' A fourth person posted: 'This should definitely be rage bait.' One critic sarcastically asked: 'Do employees have to show pictures of their vomit if they’re sick?'
CEO defends decision as positive workplace culture
Despite the criticism, Gillespie-Smith defended the move, explaining that it fostered a positive work environment. 'I think giving people the chance to enjoy special moments, even when work is busy, helps build a positive environment,' she said. 'We’re a social media agency – we work very hard and often across odd hours, so I try to be flexible when big events like the World Cup come around.' She noted that employees responded enthusiastically via the company WhatsApp group, with messages like 'best boss EVER.'
Employees rally in support
Members of the Lasting Lemons team quickly came to their boss's defense. In a TikTok video posted on the agency's account, one employee said: 'Our boss is being cancelled for letting us watch the England game. Surely not?' Many social media users also backed the idea, with one supporter writing: 'This is how every company should be.' Another fan commented: 'Now that’s what you call a good good company to work for.'
Flexibility in practice
The email was sent to staff on 2 July ahead of the match, offering the later start to those who could prove they watched. Gillespie-Smith said the policy reflected the company's approach to flexibility and work-life balance. 'There are 10 of us on the team, and everyone made different choices. Some were big England fans and went out to watch the game, some watched from bed, and others chose to get a good night’s sleep instead,' she explained.
