To expect staff to keep this day free, even if not contracted to work?

[Newyeargrinch]

Senior manager in a small business that has just paid out a considerable amount of money to sponsor a local event towards the end of the year (think Xmas fair). This could potentially bring in a lot of good publicity and business for us. The success of the event depends on having plenty of staff present to represent us. The event is on a Saturday. Some staff work Saturday anyway, some alternate Saturdays. Others are weekday only, some full time, others part time. I know full well that if we asked for volunteers or left until nearer the time, certain staff would come up with reasons why they couldn't help. Therefore an email has gone out to all staff, informing them of the date and saying we expect them to keep it free to attend this event (they will get an extra day off in lieu). Several staff replied to say they didn't know their plans that far ahead as yet but, if free, would be happy to help. We've replied that, if they have nothing planned, they can keep the day free and will be expected to help.

It has been fed back that many staff are unhappy and say that we cannot dictate what they do with their spare time.

I think it's a small ask, they've had 10 months notice and it could bring a lot of extra business our way, ultimately benefiting them!

AIBU?

Looool it’s one thing to roster Saturday staff to work a Saturday but to expect weekday staff to work it at all is a no.

Benefit then haha whatever. Staff are just a payroll number don’t make out like this if for their benefit it’s for shareholders and owners profits.

I think it's a small ask, they've had 10 months notice and it could bring a lot of extra business our way, ultimately benefiting them!

How does it benefit them? Extra business means extra work and unless they get a bonus it is all for the same pay.

I don't have enough free weekends on the run up to Christmas as it is. We are busy visiting friends and family, shopping, attending events... I wouldn't keep a Saturday free unless I was being compensated (and I don't just mean standard pay!), and a day off in lieu would only work for me if I was already working weekends. I don't want a random midweek day off, my DH works mon-fri.

Likewise.

That arrangement worked because it suited you both. What if tomorrow you get a missive from management saying that everyone is required to work on that Monday in July. No exceptions: people who normally work Saturdays only, people who only do Weds, Thurs, Fri, people who normally only work 9.30-2.30 — they've all got to be in the office on that Monday from 9-5 because it'll be good for the business and their future employment.

Now what do you say?

Er
No

As a business owner myself, you’re not just being unreasonable, you’re completely taking the p*ss

You would have been better saying you needed people to work that day, and offering whatever incentive would make a difference - like time and a half or double pay or something. Those that can/want to could volunteer, and would know that they need to sort childcare/animal care/whatever.
Asing people to keep a day free in case might need them isn't a reasonable ask.

We've replied that, if they have nothing planned, they can keep the day free and will be expected to help.

Im surprised you haven't been told to fuck off many times over for the above gem.

You need to offer more of an incentive than a day off in lieu.

You are going to generate an enormous amount of bad feeling.

You've got this one wrong.

That particular sentence IS an absolute corker, isn't it?

Reverse?

If they're not contracted to work that day, or under contractual obligation to keep the day free, I wouldn't. If it's a weekend, and they have kids/families/hobbies, why should they have to go into work? You should plan it so that it's doable with the staff who DO work, or offer decent overtime bonuses. It might be something you want your company to do for the community, but why should your staff put themselves out to make you look good?

If it’s going to benefit your company so much you can afford to pay them for the Saturday can’t you?

If you are wanting staff to work a Saturday then you need to say that and get people to sign up. You’ll need to explain what pay arrangements are. If staff don’t usually work Saturday then you’ll need to offer an incentive eg additional pay or time in lieu.

yabu @Newyeargrinch

You can ask them to keep it free, you can't however expect them to keep it free.

It’s hard to know what MN average is as I would say an average salary 30k but you might see 60k as average. I would go the extra mile in my job as more of a vocation and lovely team who support each other but I don’t think it should be the expectation in the average job

‘I can't get over the posters saying they would tell OP to 'fuck off'. ‘

I don’t think they would in real life. A lot of people on here try to look ‘hard’. In most jobs, people communicate with each other respectfully at work, even when stressed or annoyed!

wow.

I have always been self employed, and work in the arts/entertainment business. It sounds like a perfectly reasonable request to me!
10 months notice, plus a 'free' day off when you need it.

I guess this thread just highlights the different working/life styles of different industries.
OP - I'll do it!!

If it's a weekend, and they have kids/families/hobbies, why should they have to go into work?

It's only one weekend!

While I agree that the OP hasn't handled well and demanding people work on a day off is never going to go down well.....I do think there is an awful lot of drama on this thread about being asked to work one Saturday!

I have a young child who has hobbies, if I have to work a Saturday then DH just takes him. It not THAT big a deal.

In order for me to work a Saturday I would need to find Saturday childcare for two autistic children. I earn £12 per hour. A day off in lieu means fuck all when school and nursery are closed. And I'd still need to pay for nursery on the day I take off.

Saturdays in the lead up to Christmas are always busy, esp if you have to work some of them. Kids activities/panto/shopping/ catching up with friends/ relatives etc.

It's a no from me.

Pay them double rate for working weekends if you want them to attend.

Your boss is yabu.
They'll have to realise that people are bloody busy, and often ill, in the run up to Xmas.

You do get single parents exist right?

Or parents where one normally works weekends so cant just suddenly drop everything to do childcare

Ive got to love the utter privilege of saying "its not that big a deal, the DH can just have the children"

I can just imagine now what my widowed colleague who is also caring for two elderly parents would say if someone like you was as flippant to her about a situation like this

Lots of things on - with young children id probably be booked up with a Santa visit etc. volunteering yes fine but one day in lieu, maybe time and a half and a day… serious good will needed