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?

You have a bloody cheek expecting staff to roll over and put up with enforced volunteering on what would be their day off.

You shouldn't have made the company commitment until you had confirmed volunteers to carry out the work you've now promised.

People have family and other commitments which take up their non working time and you have no right to encroach on that, at least without some sort of return offer, IE a day off in lieu at the very least.

This I think you're being unreasonable. I wouldn't kept it free

I reckon a Saturday in December is worth two Saturdays any other time of the year.

@ElaineMBenes yup. It’s one day. So what? Work should not take precedent over your family.

Poorly managed message - I’d feel disgruntled and dig my heels in. Unfortunately, sounds like typical poor, unempathetic, management. Which if is the norm then staff aren’t going feel motivated to a jot more.
You catch more flys with honey rather than vinegar..

I would In fact, I'll go as far to say I would be incredibly disappointed and annoyed with any employer who thinks they can demand my free time.

I worked in hospitality for years so I very purposely left this career in favour for a weekday 9-5 job. I used to miss all sorts of meaningful events such as first and last Christmas's, birthdays, funerals, weddings etc.

Do you live your life by the principle that because it's okay for you, it must be okay for everyone else? That because you have a DH able and willing to pick up domestic slack everyone else will have one too?

Did you not stop to think outside your own situation for even a second?

Not everyone’s lives are that simple and easy.

I understand that...but it is for lots of people. I work in a role which has evolved into having to work around 6 Saturdays a year. It was never in my contract but the job/sector has changed and it's now something we have to do. Lots of us manage it - around 30 staff from my dept. and over 100 form across the organisation worked this Saturday and all we get is a day of as TOIL.

There is also the principle of a work place thinking they are entitled to any/all of your time as it suits them.

I agree it could have been handled better but one day a year is hardly onerous. I worked between midnight and 4 am one day last week...that is definitely not in my contract!

Senior manager here too.
Sorry but your approach is all wrong. If this push is such a bit thing for your organisation then there should be a financial incentive, day off in lieu and full paid extra day, or double extra pay on that day.
Then it doesn't matter who can and can't come as if people want to then They'll come

Yeah no way would I accept this. I am contracted to work specific days so that’s what I do. The way my husband and I manage childcare means that I could either be really out of pocket for doing a favour like this or have no childcare options for that day. Ask for volunteers with 10 months notice by all means but you can’t dictate like this! You’ve made yourself look ridiculously unprofessional.

Wonder where the op is

Do you live your life by the principle that because it's okay for you, it must be okay for everyone else? That because you have a DH able and willing to pick up domestic slack everyone else will have one too?

Have I said that...no

Did you not stop to think outside your own situation for even a second?

Of course, I was TALKING ABOUT MY SITUATION but I still don't think it warrants some of the dramatic responses on this thread.
Would someone really tell their employer to fuck off because the asked them to work a Saturday?

1 - it's an opportunity they think will make them money rather than a purely charitable "lovely gesture"
2- "going with the flow" and not taking steps to ensure they have sufficient staff might very likely end up with them...not having sufficient staff and being unable to run the event!
3 - hahaha if I worked there I'd still prefer my Saturday off and the money I'd have had to spend on childcare in my pocket than a bit of cheese and some chutney!

My usual Saturday plans are feet up in the afternoon watching the racing on ITV. Do the staff in this place have to submit their plans in advance so OP can decide if they're an acceptable reason to swerve this gig, I wonder? and somene telling me that if I don't have 'plans' I'm expected to turn up? piss off.

Ditto the not going the extra mile ever again for a job, as well. Been there, done that (overtime, all nighters, trips abroad) and my reward was redundancy.

There could be many reasons why they can’t or won’t want to do it. TOIL is not adequate for someone who never usually would be on rota that day.

For example, someone with caring responsibilities on this day will need to financially fund an alternate care provision - which may not actually be suitable for their circumstances. They also may not want to and would prefer to spend that time with individuals far more important to them than work on their usual day off e.g. their children who they don’t get to spend time with Monday to Friday as they’re at school and this can’t be changed

They work in their role as it works with other areas of their lives, they can give their all during their contracted hours and decline to work something their not contracted and still be a great employee - your the one moving the goal posts not them

I think a big part of the issue is a day in lieu. As this event is benefitting the company and not them directly you need to offer an incentive. You're expecting the non Saturday workers to work 11 say out of 12 in the run up to Christmas. You're kidding yourself if you think you can rely on goodwill

I value my days off. There's not a chance in hell I'd give one up for a day in lieu just to suit my bosses

Actually, nah.

It isn't one day.
It'll be that day and then,
"Well you didn't mind doing the other day..."
And
"Ask them, they did the other day"
And
"Well you're usually so flexible why are you being difficult this time?"

And eventually everyone will LOVE you because YOU'RE the only one doing the work.

Don't set yourself up as a doormat.

"These are my hours, these are what I mortgage my life time for and this amount is what you pay me for doing so."

That's it.

"Well you're not a team player"
"There's fuck all such thing as a team when layoffs start"

and by the by.. any manager or boss suggesting that the workplace is like a family..

"I thought we were all like a family?"
"Yeah, so did the twat you sacked last month"

Expendable is all you are. Bosses will talk bollocks to try and get more work out of you, don't fall for it.

It's a lovely gesture what the company is doing

You what? What "gesture" is the company doing, exactly? @RatatouillePie Nobody's getting anything extra, they're just being guilted to work a Saturday in December even if they're not contracted to do so!

Nope. My equivalent is I don't work Sundays for religious reasons. If my employer ever demanded I worked on Sundays they'd be getting short shrift. (Also legally I don't have to, as I work in retail, so I'd be using that as well as the Equality Act.)

And the workers without children are going to be especially pissed off, because once again they are expected to do the unpopular shift because childcare!

There is absolutely no chance I would be there - a Saturday before Christmas, and not even a pay incentive?! You are totally unreasonable.

If it was voluntary and you were paying 2x salary for the day then you might find staff more amenable

This! Especially at Christmas time. Child free will already be expected to pick up the shifts between Christmas and New Year because it’s “family time” and child free people don’t have families remember

It should be same policy for all, regardless of family status. Either no one should be expected to work (correct answer in this particular case) or everyone should be expected to work

What a colossally rude reply from you. Staff say if the are free they will be happy to help and the reply is not ‘Thanks’ but that if they don’t have plans they are expected to help.

I’d be telling you go fuck yourself and making sure I was not free that day.

TOIL is really poor. Double pay or double TOIL might make it worth it for some without caring responsibilities and energy. And weekend childcare doesn't really exist, no I wouldn't get a random babysitter for my kids.

" or being asked to work ONE Saturday TEN months in advance is not that big a deal."

They aren't being ASKED though are they? That's the whole point. op has made clear she expects them to do it and refusal isn't an option.

I work M-F - if my employer asked me to work one Saturday I wouldn't tell them to fuck off, it's a reasonable request-but that's all it is, a request, so I also wouldn't necessarily be saying yes. Because ASKING means people are allowed to refuse.

Asking employees to work on a non-contracted day = reasonable
Saying no to this request = also reasonable
Telling employees they have to work on a non-contracted day = not reasonable and unless there is a specification in the contract about occasional additional working, also illegal