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?

The thing is, that Tuesday may be important, you don't know. It could be the difference between a mental health crisis and keeping head above water. It could be a caring responsibility, it could be a personal health issue that she doesn't want shared. It could be she wants to stay in bed and eat popcorn all day. She asked for the day off as part of flexible working so there is no expectation that should be placed on her.
You approved the request so presumably the business could cope with it.

Personally I organise team events around my team’s non working days so part time workers are included.
If the whole group’s pattern is such that there isn’t one day in the working week when everyone is in then you alternate so it’s fair to all.

It doesn't matter if kids are in school until 3.30.

It's their day off. That's the day they agreed. There could be a million reasons why they reduced their hours, and why they have a set day off. None of which are your business.

The facilitators of the "team day" can change the day when they can do it as it's only twice a year. Or is their time deemed more important?
It's not really giving a good insight into the company culture is it?

You haven't "done everything". to encourage them to attend. You've told them they have to attend. They've told you they can't.

You aren't being flexible. You just want to bully them. You've done nothing to arrange this oh so important team day to be accessible to them. By, oh I don't know, arrange for when everyone is able to attend.
So on the other days it was arranged nobody was off sick, on maternity, paternity or on annual leave?
And let's be honest. They do it once and you'll be demanding it on other Tuesdays for other nonsense reasons, all under the guise of "being a team player" when it's all about stamping your authority.

I have been to many team days and none were ever critical! Managers always thought they were but they had zero impact on delivery.

What does the contract say?

I once worked 3 part time jobs to make up one full time job. Simple fact of the matter was that I was unavailable to the other two jobs if it wasn't their working day. That was non-negotiable - they're not paying me to be available at that time. Why do you think you own an employees time that you're not paying them for?

Is this a reverse? Would you work on a Saturday or Sunday if asked?

Nobody wants to do 'team events" on any day, let alone on their day off. I am not a big fan of forced fun.

How can you be sure that they don’t have something more important to them on that day. something personal that they don’t wish to discuss with you.

It's just a job. No one should reschedule their personal life to the employers benefit.

The OP is very David Brent.

Is this a reverse or are you just a dick head?

Obviously it's massively unreasonable to expect someone to come in on their none working day.

I don't care about the reasons. It's their none working day. End of.

Hate mindsets like this within management. And I’m management.

You sound like a manager my husband had. Note ‘had’ as in past tense - said manager being a huge influence on his decision to leave.
Where when we had serious personal problems, said manager refused to help and kept parroting the line that the job was more important than our personal issues so he needed to be in work and him being off was too detrimental to the team and his job couldn’t be done with any adjustments at all.

Treat people well and with respect and they might do more for you / be willing to be flexible. It seems you’re the one who just wants to take take take.

I was on the fence until I read this response - this is where you lost me. This is utter tripe.

Did you ask them to swap days? If not specifically asked i would assume whoever sent the invite forgot I don't work Tuesday's.

Do you expect others to cancel their holiday plans or come in if they're sick too. There are always going to be staff who can't attend. If its not mandatory training and is non critical I wouldn't go in either.

Sounds like the company is understaffed. My line manager tried to pull the same crap on me last year and asked me to re-arrange a frozen embryo transfer, despite telling them it's a highly time-sensitive procedure. I appreciate it was a busy time for the company, but there were enough people for the day I had to have off. I couldn't convince them by telling them. But they started singing from a different hymn sheet when I threatened to invoice the company with the cancellation fee (private IVF) and an escalation to HR. Patience wears thin, and if someone needs the day off, don't poke the bear.

Presumably they have a life outside of work and this is what they went part time for. There might be any number of reasons they can’t swop days. Even no reason is good enough.

its their non-working day end of. You’re not being flexible, you’re still paying them for the days they are working.

That's a shitty attitude to take towards part timers. You need to take care not to let your attitude out at work because you could be in trouble under discrimination laws.

For example i have two protected characteristics which is why i work part time, and if i got wind of my manager insinuating I'm lazy and don't deserve development or help during the hours I'm at work because I'm part time id have no hesitation in making a complaint. If they want me to attend team building, they arrange it for when I'm at work. If they're arranging it every time for a time im not at work, i assume my presence isn't required.

The company can demand what i do with my time while I'm at work. They can ask nicely if i can swap my hours. But if i say no to working outside my contracted hours, then it's no. It doesn't mean I'm not committed to my job while I'm there.

People on business trips are presumably getting paid a salary which reflects having to travel. Janet from Admin isn't.

It's unreasonable of you to expect them to come in on a non working day for a team event. It's not project, it's not what you agreed with them and really to be inclusive you should have ensured all team events are on days the team can attend. It's the same as having a go at other team members for not being committed enough to come in on a Saturday for a team meeting.

The ship has sailed with this flexible working request
if it was needed this should of been factored in when new hours were agreed

I wouldn't want to attend a work training on a Saturday...

Does the employee know that they could take another day off in lieu of attending? I'm not clear from your post - you say that they can, but not that they know they can.
It could be that whilst the childcare isn't an issue, they have other commitments on a Tuesday.

To be honest, I'd be opting out of as many 'team building' non-essential things as possible. I go to work to earn money. If I get on with people in the workplace, it's a plus, but it's a secondary factor.

Perhaps, if possible, try to set another event on a day they work? I realise you're at the 'mercy' of suppliers, but it would mean this employee could attend.

Yes I always insist it is referred to as a non working day

Everything except not arrange it on a Tuesday……