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?

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

Did you now? Bless you 🤣🤣

If they have contracted hours work can't just decide they have to come in on their days off.

So there’s a threats to their jobs if they don’t?

You could apply that to anything.

You must work late, if not business may not stay afloat and you could lose your job.

Cant take annual leave, we need you here to do xyz, if not business may not stay afloat and you could lose your job.

Need to increase your hours, change you to working nights, working all weekend, come in when sick and so on?

If the business isn’t doing that well, making people work their non working day isn’t going to improve things.

All of these things.

A good manager would have tested the waters before throwing money at something like that.

It is their time, their choice.

Why not offer time and a half for attending, you may get a lot more people interested.?

My response would be LOL 😂

Fucking hell reverse or not the manager is taking the piss.

This could have been handled much better
10 months notice - you had time to present it as an opportunity, ask for volunteers for this exceptional Saturday, with payment/toil arranged, possibly some sweetener like a team dinner after. Guaranteed that some people would be motivated and happy to commit to the day, build it into their arrangements for the Christmas period and you would have both staffing for the day and a positive feeling towards the event and within the team, thus a good representation for your brand

Make a general non-contractual demand 10 months in advance with unclear conditions and send a snippy email to those who have expressed interest in volunteering, basically stating that as an employee you also control their non contracted time - You have lost respect and goodwill from the staff, you may end up with a resentful unmotivated team on the day, possibly with quite a few calling in sick or unable to attend, plus a loss of willingness to be flexible from many staff members in this and possibly other situations

Is there something you could do? - backtrack now, send a general apology acknowledging your approach was a mistake and start again with plan 1 - asking for volunteers with a clear plan of payment/time.

That should have been a conversation with staff, not a blanket email. There will be staff who have very good reasons for not committing to weekend working, some who have family commitments etc. You’ve just raised the anxiety levels of your staff for no good reason.

Surely when planning an event you assess the resource you need and plan for it. So work out how many people and do a staffing schedule from those who are contracted to work at the weekend, while offering other interested staff the opportunity to attend (with some incentive for all given this seems so pivotal to your business).

The success of the event depends on having plenty of staff present to represent us

Then pay them something that makes it worth their while. Double time?

90% of people here think you are being unreasonably, @Newyeargrinch are you going to respond?

How will more business benefit them? It’ll increase the business’s profits but whey would employees care? Will they get a bonus if more business comes in as a result of the event?

Surely this is a reverse?

How can you be that senior and that stupid.

Of course it's completely unreasonable and out of order.

When we need volunteers for weekend trade fairs, it's two days off in lieu per day worked.

I'm taking it that in the OP's case (and my own circs) it's not contracted or usually expected. I'd only have 2 of DC's sports things in that period due to it being the end of season but there would be limited people able to commit to help. I'd be going through the next few months on a "maybe" and "if such and such works out" whilst OP steamed on, with the expectation I'm going to be there.

I am never expected to work weekends and plan my life accordingly. I do work for a great company and if an event cropped up as in the OP, it would be approached in a completely different way, with understanding that people have lives. And possibly with some kind of bonus attached. I'd more than likely be able to say I'll let them know nearer the time and it wouldn't get my manager's back up like the OP and they would appreciate that if I can, I will.

it could bring a lot of extra business our way, ultimately benefiting them!

I work for a small business. Extra work for that business either means:
A. I have to work much harder (often to the point of illness)
B. They employ someone else

There's actually nothing in it for me.

You're a mug.

I would be looking for another job if the business is that vulnerable. If the open day is essential to keeping the business afloat, then they need to pay staff to be there.

I think this is just another case of a small business owner expecting thier staff (who are usually paid the bare minimum) to care as much about the business as they do.

December is an important month for most families, there are people to visit, parties, school and church events etc. I wouldn't turn something down just because work have told me to keep it free.

Compulsory volunteering, what a great idea. Get those serfs told.

Also Op, my current employer offered me extra pay to work at weekends and my evenings off. I still said no.

You need to accept that many/most people value their time off. Even just one day. They don’t owe you anything.

Why would a business think they are owed "loyalty" from their staff? What do they do to justify that?

Do they have any choice?

I think small business massively over estimate the loyalty of their staff. They do it so they can line their own pockets.

Even if it’s a reverse, then it still means there is a “stupid” senior manager!

Very much hoping it was just a rushed un thought through message rather than stupidity though. That said, I’ve had and heard of plenty of very stupid senior managers…

I see you have offered time in lieu, but in all honesty, if you want people there you need to pay them. If its not their usual working day, you need to pay them overtime.

YABU to expect people to keep their non-work hours free for a work event. As has been mentioned, they may have family commitments, hobbies, or even plans to be away.

Contrary to popular (at least on social media) belief, work is not the most important thing in people's lives. Earning a living, yes. But if you dropped dead at your desk, you wouldn't have cooled down before your replacement was being recruited.

I think the clue’s in the name- volunteers are voluntarily doing something!

And a day off in lieu is all very well but they don’t have to accept it- maybe close to Christmas people want THAT day (especially if you have kids etc every Saturday in the run up to Christmas is usually spoken for and a day off in Feb or on a Tuesday would be no use at all).

“I think it’s a small ask…”, except no one was asked, it was a demand, and no, it’s not reasonable to dictate what people do in their free time.

People who don't work Saturdays probably don't for a reason. If someone asked me to do a Saturday, as a lone parent with no support outside of school hours I would need to find weekend childcare which I have never done as it is very difficult. So therefore YABveryU to expect your staff to be available outside of their rostered hours.

My previous job had “some weekend and evening work may be required” in the contract. They still realised we wouldn’t volunteer on weekends for just time in lieu. So Saturday was time and a half, a Sunday was double time.

I’d say even for Saturday staff, this is outside of their usual remit. They should get half a day to equal them with weekday staff and weekday staff should be offered 1.5 days in lieu. Time in lieu also needs to be given a reasonable time to take it, such as 6 months, not within a month which most people would do. If this is going to bring a lot of extra business, you could also show your appreciation by giving a £10 voucher for somewhere of their choosing (choose a few supermarkets, John Lewis, M&S and Amazon), as it’s just before Christmas it’ll be appreciated.