Star Wars attendance related absenteeism may cost U.S. employers $627 million

from Peter - Friday, May 13, 2005
accessed 1123 times

"Missing workers? Darth has them"
By TAVIA GRANT, The Globe and Mail, B1.

Next Thursday, the Force will be with Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda -- the North American work force, that is. Worker absenteeism on the Thursday and Friday opening of Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith could cost U.S. employers a whopping $627-million (U.S.) in the two days, according to one report.

And in Canada -- already criticized for its slack productivity growth -- many employers have fully embraced the Dark Side and are cornering blocks of seats for their workers on opening day.

"Companies and employers are buying group tickets to be able to give to their staff as a thank you or as an incentive because they know how much of a demand and excitement there is," said Cineplex Galaxy's spokeswoman Pat Marshall.

"And I can't even begin to tell you how many people have said to me they will be taking the 19th off work, or they will be sick that day."

Not to worry: For those who need assistance in joining those movie lines, geeksquad.com is kindly providing excuse notes for employers that can be downloaded on your computer.

And woe betide a person with computer glitches -- IT workers are expected to flock to the movie. The Geek Squad, a 24-hour computer support task force, says it plans to help small businesses in high-tech markets cope with the "epidemic" by auctioning its agents through eBay.

The $627-million cost to U.S. companies is based on the assumption that attendance on the first two days of the last in the Star Wars film series will match that of the previous last movie, according to Challenger Gray & Christmas, which published the report.

"Even though some fans were disappointed with the first two instalments, there is a lot of anticipation to see the final movie," John Challenger, chief executive officer of the Chicago-based firm, said in a release. "With an opening day falling on a Thursday, instead of the traditional Friday premiere, we are looking at two days of Star Wars-induced absenteeism."

About 9.4 million people attended Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones in the first two days of its release in 2002. At that time, the estimated two-day box office revenue was $54.55-million, at an average ticket price of $5.80.

Based on past Challenger estimates, the cumulative cost of Star Wars absenteeism for the three most recent movies alone could hit more than $1.2-billion.

That's not to say the U.S. economy doesn't benefit elsewhere. Spending on movie tickets, drinks and popcorn will likely soar. Tourism will benefit, as well as shops and restaurants near movie theatres, Challenger said.

That boost may have already started. Members of NYLine, a group of Star Wars fans, began assembling outside Manhattan's Ziegfeld Theater on April 30.

In Hollywood, lineups outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre, where the original Star Wars premiered in 1977, began in early April -- despite the fact that Revenge of the Sith isn't scheduled to play there.

In Canada, lineups at one Toronto theatre are expected to start tomorrow, partly to raise money for a local charity, the North York Harvest Food Bank.

Cineplex Galaxy began offering Canadian tickets on-line and at 83 theatres on April 22, and they're almost sold out. (Don't panic if you haven't bought yet -- half the tickets are reserved until the day of the show.)
Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com May12, 2005