ChinaHR.com, one of the country's leading Web-based headhunters, asked more than 300 HR managers in major cities about their attitude toward the World Cup, which kicks off this Friday.

More than 70 percent of those surveyed said they thought the World Cup would influence the company's business, while 20 percent said they were nervous about the event's arrival.

Respondents in Shanghai were among the most worried in the country. More than 85 percent of HR managers in the city were afraid their staff would be addicted to the matches - which will air in China in the late evening and early morning.

The percentage was the same in Beijing and Tianjin, but was much higher than in Guangzhou, Changsha and Wuhan, the survey reported.

Previous experiences indicated that late-night games will lead to employees being late and dozing at work, said a Shanghai HR director surnamed Yang.

The survey said that 78 percent of companies will adopt flextime to allow soccer fans to come to work later.

A US chemical company in Shanghai is even encouraging its customer service and sales staff to watch the matches of their clients' countries by allowing them to be late the next day.

However, a Qingdao-based company will fine late comers 50 yuan (US$6) from next Monday, the survey said.