Staff at a Wheatley supermarket and a Didcot distribution centre will be able to get extra holidays during the World Cup.

Asda has announced it is giving every one of its 150,000 employees the chance to take up to two weeks' unpaid leave during this summer's football campaign in Germany.

Called German Jolly World Cup Leave, 300 workers at the London Road store in Wheatley and 400 staff at the distribution depot on Didcot's Southmead industrial estate, can apply for a week or two weeks' unpaid leave.

It came as research by workplace advice experts Croner revealed that one in seven young men was planning to fake an illness in June so they could follow the tournament on TV. A poll of more than 2,000 people also showed that one in 20 women would be tempted to pull a sickie for the same reason.

Nick Cherry, in charge of the grocery section at the London Road store, said: "Staff are already talking about the World Cup and I'm sure some of my male colleagues will be very interested in this.

"I'm not really interested in football, so I won't be applying.

"I'm more of an tenpin bowling fan."

Asda spokesman Jennifer England said this was the latest in a series of flexible working offers the store had provided.

She added: "This will operate on a first-come first-served basis, with individual store managers deciding how many staff can take the time off.

"While lots of male workers may want to take advantage of this offer, some of their wives will probably be sick of the football, so we want to make sure our stores are well staffed for when they visit."

As part of German Jolly World Cup Leave, stores will also be running shift swapping schemes, allowing extended breaks and fielding requests for odd days off so colleagues are able to watch certain matches.

Televisions for sale on the shop floor will also be tuned in to the World Cup. Asda says its flexible approach has meant that during previous tournaments, such as Euro 2004 and the 2002 World Cup, the store saw no increase in absenteeism amongst its colleagues.