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 ten quid voucher?!

On yer bike

F and off spring to mind

Another no here.

You don't own your staff. You could give then 10 months or 10 years notice. You still wouldn't own them!

That would be a no from me.

Unless staff are contracted to work on a Saturday, you can't insist. Surely you know that? If their contract says Monday-Friday, then what they chose to do on a Saturday is of absolutely zero business of yours. You can offer all the perks you like, but if they're not contracted, tough titties if they say no.

I get that you are attached to your business, it's your baby. But that's not the case for your staff, and I think employers forget that. For your staff, it's a pay check. And as long as they continue to get the wages they signed up for, they honestly couldn't give a single rats arse if a Christmas fayre drums up extra business or not.

You can beg and plead people to turn up, but be prepared for a lot of sullen, grumpy faces unless you make it VERY worth their while.

Plus an extra half day to time in lieu.

OP, I run my own business with around 20 staff.

What you and every other business owners/senior managers need to remember and learn is that employees don't and never will care as much as you, and quite rightly so.

Now this doesn't mean they cant be amazing at their job or wonderful employees.

Owners/seniors need to understand that these employees are paid to provide the work they are contracted to do, this doesn't mean going above and beyond, keeping days free 10 months in advance or letting their work come before their family/own life.

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 specifically will it benefit them 😂is there a bonus, will they be paid double time and if that's the case I assume you listed these benefits in the email to them.

Perhaps you should have listed these monetary benefits in your initial email and asked who would be willing to volunteer, then you could have had enough volunteers.

No! Double on your bike.

Ten quid is worth nothing. I’d be insulted by the offer.

Lol. No chance.
Weekends, especially December ones, are family time. I'd have told you to fuck off too.

I'm a primary school teacher, and one time our horror of a head teacher decided a Saturday summer fair was the way to go.
I was put in charge of manning the secondhand uniform stall. In 3 hours I made £1.56.
Frankly, I'd have given them that with a smile, and stayed at home.

Surely this isn't real?

Will you be there? Are management expected to give up their free time too? Don't blame any of them for not wanting to work their non contracted time, think those that have said they will help are being very generous

Yabu

People shouldn’t have to give up a free day just because it will improve your business. Ask for volunteers. Actually schedule people for it. Don’t just tell them to be free

I would expect double paid for that. Everyone can use extra money around Christmas.

I have young children and single parent - I can't say what commitment's My children would have that day. It's a Saturday so paid for childcare isn't going to be available that you could offer to pay for even if i was comfortable using it. So yeah YABU to be this annoyed it.

yabVERYu

You must know you are being unreasonable?

You told them? That would be a big "fuck off" from me. You had 10 months to ASK THEM NICELY. It's of little benefit to them, and you don't get to dictate what they do in their own time. Slavery was abolished quite some time ago.

I think the person who said it's a small ask is not wrong. But the impression from the OP is there was no ask just an expectation.

The phrase you attract more honey with bees comes to mind. If the email said this is the date- heads up. For everyone who does Saturday bear in mind that we'll be putting as many as possible on the rota for this and no holidays that day - to facilitate future planning by. For anyone part time we'll have additional hours going that Saturday. For anyone full time we'd ask that you swop into this Saturday and have a day in lieu the following/previous week. Along with the emphasis on we want as many as possible in for it. This is really important to the company here's why etc.

For an event like this you're relying on the good will of the team as well as contractual obligation and being cognisant of that will ultimately help. You'll have some people that don't want to- no probs. But if those people start a whisper campaign of how unreasonable you are you're fucked. Better off being positive and reasonable and have anyone on the fence stay there until nearer the time instead of pissing them off 10 months in advance.

Massively so - you've gone arse about tit about this. All you've done is create resentment for this event, which is 10 months away. And anyone feeling rubbish about work, you've just potentially pushed them over the edge.

Personally would have sat on it until late summer, told those that work weekends they'd be doing this and asked others to volunteer - with an incentive for everyone at the event, and more so for those giving up a day. I'd have tried my best to make it fun and really sell the personal benefits/incentives. If you're giving time in lieu, if you're a decent manager (i dont think you are based on this) then you would make sure this was honoured before Christmas - whether before or after the event (if they dont show it's an extra day of normal leave). It's a huge ask - whether it's kids, social life, elderly parents, just generally sorting life admin - in December. You can't penalise people for having more on outside of work than you.

I'd personally try and erase this error and go again in late August, with a sensible plan that engages people. And maybe try and be a bit less draconian before then, people may want to help you a bit more.

Surely a reverse?

You are being very unreasonable to ask staff to work on a non contracted day.
People have lives outside of work and you cannot dictate that they keep this day free.

Ask for volunteers at triple the rate of pay instead?

If it is a charity event benefiting the public, you could ask for volunteers ...

NewYearGrinch PLC is sponsoring the Christmas Fete on 27th November. We would also like to staff the xxx stall which provides much needed funds for the Hospice. If you are available to volunteer on that day, you will receive a day off in lieu and be eligible for a prize draw of £150 voucher to spend at Y shop. This is a community event that we as a local business are excited to support. There will be a NYG tent with refreshments for volunteers and supervised festive activities for your family including a surprise for all children under the age of 12.

But... you have missed the boat by demanding staff keep the day free.. and the increase is business is good for the shareholders / owners.. employees are unlikely to feel the direct benefit of this unless you are a company that has a generous profit sharing programme and employees feel part of the business family.

Apologies for the miscommunication... we would like to ensure we have adequate staff available for this event. We invite you to sign up in return for an extra day holiday which you can take in advance or you will be paid for the time you spend at the event on that day.

How much are these staff paid ?

How much do they share in the business profits- and don't tell me they get to keep their jobs as that is a non response ?

Are you going to be working at the event?

There is a way to approach this, and from how you have written it, I doubt you have followed it. If it's that important to you, I'd make it impossible to refuse, unless it's in their contracts, to offer everyone overtime or two days off in lieu, but look after those that should be working on Saturdays too or they will resent it. I knew a school that kept an inset day back for the first Monday in December and told all the teachers to hit the shops whilst they (and the shops) were child-free; in turn, the school did a couple of late evenings, which they were very pleased with. For some people, working on a random Saturday is manageable; for some, it is a huge ask with childcare and other activities, ultimately people can say no.

I think it's a small ask

But you didn't ask. You informed them they were expected to attend. You can't expect it from staff who work Mon-Fri contracts, and you need to put in a better incentive for those that do step up (paid overtime would probably be simplest). Even then, you can't demand that they attend, unless their contract covers it.