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?

Probably the only one here, but if I liked my employer and was being paid to attend (and maybe also got a day off too), I wouldn’t mind too much.

If you're not contracted to work on a Saturday, you don't have to work it. People may well have other jobs, commitments, etc.
I think the approach has been all wrong. If you need additional people to work that day, then an approach to all should have been seeking volunteers, and being clear that there will be double pay/time back in lieu, etc. It needs to be an attractive option. People can't be forced to do it.

No one is saying being asked would be shit, but that isn’t what happened so it’s irrelevant.

Ha ha ha. Let's ask some French people if they'd be happy with that, shall we?!

French workers win legal right to avoid checking work email out-of-hours | Work-life balance | The Guardian

extra day off in lieu
is this a way of saying "a day off in lieu"?Where does the "extra" come in ?

Single mum here..childcare will be very very difficult..I work full time and am exhausted at the end of the week and I do stuff with my son on weekends..a BIG NO frim me!

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.

Absolutely anything at all is a genuine reason to refuse to do this. Weddings. Funerals. Not contracted to work weekends. Would rather have a lie-in and then doss on the sofa all day. Offended that employer makes demands of their free time so won't do it now even though they had originally planned to take part. They are staff, not slaves. Honestly, the entitlement is shocking.

No one is saying being asked would be shit, but that isn’t what happened so it’s irrelevant.

A number of people have said it is unreasonable to be asked to work a Saturday, particularly one in December. So clearly some people do object to being asked and not just the way the OP has handled it.

It's a "hell fucking NO" from me

You don't get to dictate what people do in their own time

I suspect this is a reverse

Oh go away.

They are staff, not slaves.

What an overreaction!

Are you serious? It’s your business, not theirs.

You’re not even paying for overtime?? That’s rude, I’m not surprised your employees are unhappy.

It's bone idle Britain- you're on a loser with this one, particularly on Mnet

Andrea Ledsom is here!

Dh is French. They enjoy a leisurely lunch in an restaurant and clock off when the clock hits 5:00 or whatever is on their contract.

Where have you pulled this nonsense from?

I knew in December 2023 that I'd already got 3 weekends in December 2024 committed to so I'd definitely not be doing this.

Had the approach been ‘looking for volunteers, you’ll get double time/bonus/free lunch’ or whatever to make it sound attractive you’d maybe get folk signing up. But to get their backs up like this from the outset it would be a firm no from me.
I also suspect reverse.

It's bone idle Britain- you're on a loser with this one, particularly on Mnet
It's bone idle to work your contracted hours and not keep random non-working days free because your boss says so?
😂

I'm someone who'd happily volunteer to do the extra time if TOIL or pay was appropriate AND the overall workplace culture was one of give and take.

A manager telling me they expect me to keep a non-working day free because they say so would quickly find my willingness reduces.

And that’s aside from the fact it’s Dec when people are notoriously busy at that time of year.

Pay them all to keep their free time reserved for a day of working if it’s so important to the business. You can’t expect employees to care about your business so much that they will write off their free time!

It’s the expectation that they will, or rather should, say yes without there even being a financial incentive, not the actual asking.

Companies don’t offer loyalty so they shouldn’t expect it back.

My brother works at a University. He attends the open days alone because he is very well paid and takes a day off in the week to go fishing. It suits him. He doesn't expect anyone else from his department, who is paid far less than he is, to attend a Saturday event. If there were redundancies in the department the poorest paid people would be got rid of long before my brother. He regards it as an important part of his job to ensure excellent student feedback and a fully subscribed course each year . That way the people in his department keep their jobs. He is paid well for that. People on far less shouldn't be expected to do extra.

@ElaineMBenes sorry ,yes you have made it clear that you felt it was ok to ask people to work on a Sat but that the OPs manner was unreasonable .
I'm a slow typer and also got interrupted in RL. Hadn't taken in your clarifications .
Apologies..
.

do you want YOUR small business represented by happy appreciated staff or
forced to attend /disgruntled staff.?
Your pa stunt/touting business is ultimately beneficial. so-put your money where your mouth is. incentive = all saturday staff and voluntary extra shifts will get time and half and a day off in lieu (before we get really busy?)
DEMANDING anything isnt gony be good on anybody. you employ them to do their job.this is over n above surely