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?

A day off in lieu and double time on a voluntary basis it what we get offered for non contracted days

My first thought is that this is a reverse..

But surely the better answer is to pay people to work the day? Rather than a day in lieu. Would likely get a more positive response.

I don’t think YABU as they’re going to be given the time off in lieu, and it’s a one off annual event.

It’s not really any different to being rostered on for that day.

However, I would be interested as to how it was communicated to them - hopefully it was represented as a fun day doing something different and working together as a whole team (and there will be a free lunch or drinks afterwards, or something…)

So you're expecting them to work on their day off in exchange for a day off. So they gain absolutely nothing. Its 100% a favour to you. You've phrased it as a demand with no appreciation for them not being required to do it. Benefitting nothing from it. It's your business, not theirs, they don't benefit from going above and beyond.

Plus, weekends near Christmas are busy for either shopping/organising or family and friends. You'd need to give big rewards to expect people to give that up for your benefit.

If "success of the event depends on having plenty of staff present to represent us" then you should have sorted your resourcing before you financially tied yourself into the event. Was it checked that your usual Saturday staff would be sufficient to cover this (alongside presumably enough to run the main business unless that's closing on that day)? If not, how were you planning on resourcing both?

But basically- you don't own your employees, and you have no say in what they do with their free time, so your non-weekend crews have absolutely no obligation to "save the date" for something that doesn't benefit them. Are you even planning on paying them or just TOIL? If the latter that's extremely cheeky as an expectation!

Personally I’d have told you to fuck off.
Same here, but in a less blunt way.

If asked closer to the time whether I'd be willing to work the day and be paid time and a half or given TOIL, I might actually consider it if the company had a good culture of give and take.

As soon as someone tells me they expect me to keep my non-working time free for work, my availability and willingness would vanish and I'd be much less likely to give a little extra on other occasions too.

A day off doesn't come close to "paying them back" as many will only have childcare or transport arrangements for the weekdays. You'd need to cover any out of pocket expenses too.

Stupidly you had many happy to volunteer but then threw away all the goodwill you had by coming down hard. I think you'll find those people start dropping out quickly now.

You and your other managers just sound like arseholes. Maybe take a managing course… on your day off, for no extra pay.

You could stick your day off in lieu 🤣🤣🤣 you've gone about this entirely the wrong way and now have people's backs up. Good job 👏

If I choose a job where I'm contacted to never work Saturdays, I've chosen it for a reason, most likely childcare or another commitment. If my boss came to me and asked if I would mind doing as a favour to help them our, I'd do what I could to sort something out. If it was demanded that I do something outside my contractual obligations, I'd be more inclined to tell them to fuck off. It's not about the notice time, it's your attitude, you have no right to their time outside of contracted hours.

That would be an easy no from me.

It's a straight no from me. Roster them if you want, pay accordingly and give days in lieu but expecting them to keep it free so you can choose who you want to work on a Saturday before Christmas? Oh DFO OP. YABVVU and I'd hand in my notice on the basis that you clearly believe you own these people.

Awful behaviour.

You get what you pay for.

They aren't contracted and it's a Saturday before Christmas so usually people have plans. TOIL isn't a great incentive.

Overtime before Christmas may get better results.

It's not a small ask BTW.

Hopefully such pleasantries would be taken into consideration when there were promotion opportunities or requests for time off.

Just echoing everyone else here.

They are not contracted to work Saturdays so they have absolutely no obligation.

Make the offer worth it with overtime as well as toil and you might get enough volunteers.

You're the manager, manage

I'm a primary teacher. We have a Christmas fair every year on a Saturday, run by the PTA. It is appreciated if staff attend but there is no expectation as it is not part of our contracted time. I go if I can but I don't go if I have something else on, eg previous years have clashed with a competition or show that my own children are performing in, or a family event.

You can ask for volunteers but you can't compel people to attend if it isn't their normal working time.

A reverse surely.

My work tried this. I pointed out that DH works Saturdays (contractual) and that I had an 18 month old so would be bringing him with me. Apparently I was ‘exempt’. I’m told they did a bit of soul searching as it hadn’t occurred to them that people had families (very young team… I was the oldest by some way).

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.

Ouch. I can't believe you did that. So the ones who actually showed some goodwill got a snotty response? Why on earth would you do that?
You actually pissed off the most helpful and available of your staff? That makes zero sense, and you've now lost their goodwill, not just for this event, but in general. I expect them to be looking out for new jobs.

Nope you can’t expect people to do this

This would be totally normal and expected in my workplace. I think in an office 9-5 type of place it would be less usual but in many businesses (even if you usually work Mon-Fri) there is an expectation of some flexibility. Single mums (in my experience) and usually cut some slack. Otherwise, you’d really be given short shrift for not being available almost a year in advance for one day! We would be able to take time off in lieu though.

*ultimately benefiting the business.

Cheeky fecker.

Hard no from me. Boundaries!

My time is my own unless you're paying for it. You want to be Lady Bountiful on my time? Front up the cash or do it yourself.

You can’t expect staff to be available on their non contracted day.

What is in it for them ?

Sorry but it’s just a job and you would replace them in a heartbeat if they left, died etc

You seem like a poor manager. No people skills