( This article contains no spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 1 )
Forget Spring—Winter is finally here. After almost two years of waiting, Game of Thrones fans across the globe will get to see their favorite kings, queens, and assassins reunite for a final season.
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Last season’s premiere garnered a viewership of 16 million people , with the season 8 premiere expected to blow that statistic out of the water.
Although everyone in America saw the episode last night, the season 8 premiere is set to air at 9 AM in Western Australia.
Which is about the same time Australian workers are expected to clock in on the job.
Talk about inconvenient. How can you possibly get work done knowing that the life of your favorite character is on the line? How will you avoid spoilers ???
In the Game of Thrones, you either win or you die…or you call in sick.
The West Australian reports that tens of thousands of Australian employees are expected to call in sick to work in order to watch the Game of Thrones premiere.
“They would do this legally through taking leave and illegally by falsely claiming illness,” explains Slater and Gordon employment lawyer Daniel Stojanoski.
“I can definitely say there will be a bigger rate of people taking the day off to watch Game of Thrones because it’s a Monday, it’s convenient”
Add in that there are also two highly anticipated Australian sports games on Saturday and Sunday evening, which would make Game of Thrones the finale to a wonderful weekend bender.
But Stojanoski warns workers about the consequences of calling in sick on the same day as everyone else.
He urges Australians to avoid lying by either taking leave or being upfront to their bosses, perhaps asking to come in late or leave early on that day.
Blog editor David Knox reminded us that the next six Mondays may have similar trends as season 8 continues.
“If your workmate calls in sick on Monday, chances are they have a bad case of Westerositis, which will likely repeat for the next few weeks”
“If you dare to spoil them with a death you’ve read about on social media, prepare to be cut from the will.”
Australians are faced with a dilemma this morning: Either call in sick to work and risk looking like an obvious liar, or wait to watch the Game of Thrones premiere and attempt to avoid spoilers at all cost.
If you are one of the thousands skipping out on work today, maybe pick up an extra shift at some point this week. A Lannister’s gotta pay their debt somehow!
