to expect employee to be flexible and attend team event on a day they are usually off?

[traintocatch]

We have an employee who recently reduced hours and chose to have a whole day off during the week -Tuesdays (working week is Mon-Fri). Before approving this, we agreed they would work on Tuesdays as and when required for project delivery so not 100% set in stone. Since they started this pattern we happened to organise team events with external facilitators and 2 of these events were held on Tuesdays. Whilst not critical that they attend, it would be important for their development, their understanding of company culture as well as team morale and really showing that are willing to integrate. We cannot always choose days to suit them. They declined to attend on both occasions and wondered what would be reasonable to expect? I know I would attend and take the day off another time that week?

Oh dear ....... I'm embarrassed for you.

I look forward to seeing the piece of paper where is says that Tuesdays off is part of the employers contract.

So much ignorance of employment law….

Christ, from the OPs replies you can tell exactly what type of culture this company has and it's one to 100% avoid at all costs.

It became binding when they began receiving a 20% pay cut. Flexible working isn't a favour these days

And it's a team building event, not linked to project delivery at all or you could say that about anything and everything as part of a job. Perhaps the op company should focus on including everyone on the 80% of other days would help 'project delivery' too

I work 4 days a week in a senior role. I can come in on my day off but it’s a faff as I have to arrange alternative childcare. I can do it but only if really needed and I’d expect serious gratitude from my manager. If my manager regularly arranged team events on my day off I’d be contacting HR to complain. Totally and utterly unacceptable.

said the pot to the kettle

Why don’t you go the extra mile and arrange it on one of the 4 days of the week the person actually works?

I think op is saying the working on Tuesdays for project delivery isn't set in stone so is a loose arrangement.

If not and I misread then obvs you're 100% correct! ☺️

as long as the employee takes off a day off in lieu then there is no contract breach.

Team events are usually bullshit time fillers

and why go the extra mile? What for?

GOD I HATE when employers think this means it’s ok. 1. It is up to individuals what suits them, some of my colleagues don’t seem to mind but for me, unless it is truly business critical, and it never is, it’s a hard no to travel on weekends. 2. People often don’t moan to their employers because they feel like they can’t without it damaging their reputation. It does not matter if the employer says it doesn’t, people still feel like it does. Then the justification becomes “no one minds” when in fact they do, they just feel like they can’t without suffering in some fashion.

My employer is very flexible. They are flexible to RETAIN me, because I am excellent at my job during working hours. Their flexibility does not buy my weekends. It means they get the most of out of me during working hours and I complete my work to a high standard. If they were not fkexible, I would find employment elsewhere.

She still doesn't have to work on her nwd though. And certainly wouldn't be 'written up as a performance issue' unless they are going to do performance write ups for all employees who don't come in on the weekends, the staff member who books things for when people aren't there etc etc

I work four days and do swop my days to accommodate business needs, because there are times I need flexibility the other way. However I’m lucky I have a self employed DH who can also flex his diary.

@traintocatch

You’re annoyed because your employee won’t give up their agreed unpaid day off to attend your non-essential training event?

Seriously?

Just because you’ve been daft enough to part with good money so some fly-by-night twit can convince you all to crawl around the room pretending to be sheep or to describe the type of biscuit you want to be, you expect your employee to be equally enthusiastic at the thought of being made to perform an inane interpretive dance which only serve to make employees think the management is a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic?

Really??!!!

😂😂😂😂😂

this

We cannot always choose days to suit them. They declined to attend on both occasions and wondered what would be reasonable to expect?

Either these are two team days but there are others ('we can ALWAYS choose days to suit them' suggests sometimes you do) - and presumably they attend the other days but not these two Tuesdays.

Or these are the only two team days, in which case it's not a case of always choosing days to suit them, it's a case of never choosing them. In which case, a variety of days is probably the way forward.

Hmm am in this situation myself - manager wants me to attend training on my day off and l can have the time off at a time that suits them, not me. I am all for doing my bit but my day off is very precious to me .

This...and I have been a manager, retired now.

Oh FFS! They don’t WANT TO BECAUSE IT’S THEIR BLOODY WEEKEND!!! I got asked to go to Florida to test water sports equipment for work. Hurray some might say. I don’t want to spend my bloody weekend with my work colleagues and that was an actual fun activity. Just because it’s your working day, IT’S NOT YOUR EMPLOYEE’S WORKING DAY!!

i suggest you Google ‘standard employment contract terms’, and then re-read your comment.

Nobody should be expected to go to work on their day off. If something's that important, you arrange it for when everyone can attend, or do multiple sessions.

People's lives are ALWAYS more important than their jobs, and the best companies respect this.

Surprised at the amount of 'YABU' votes/comments.
You approved their new pattern WITH THE PROVISO that they come in occasionally when required. A team day is not project delivery, but it is rather crucial.

Do you honestly think taking advice from a public parenting forum is professional?

I get you're new to management, but you'd be far better speaking to your own manager, than risking this staff member recognising herself.

Less embarrassing for both of you.