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?

I did have a good laugh at that. Stockholm syndrome.

Did all that for 15 years of my working life. went above and beyond work all hours. even from my hospital bed. all I got in return was grief holidays refused days off favoritism to other colleagues especially when one was picked to go represent our team on a trip away for work I did. any promotion I went for was declined. walked out aftrr my manager promised me a pay rise and 6 months later still never happend
now I work in a company I do my set hours. the rare times I have to stay late etc it's recorded and I get my time back later on in month. my holidays are not declined and I use it fully. I get no phone calls in eve or weekend. often told it can wait till tomorrow. I have got numerous pay rises including a generous 10k one year. met all my targets so got my bonus and awards. I stick within my job spec and have no issues telling others that it's not ny job nor do I motivate anyone. I come in clock in put my head donw do my work and clock off when my time is done. things are kept running and no issues. I will never go above and beyond in any job again. I learned the hard way you are just a number no matter how good you are

Is it any wonder the UK workforce has such low productivity compared to other countries in the developed world when you see attitudes like this.

No doubt it is all the fault of UK managers

That’s hilarious! This poster told me I was projecting when my post clearly touched a nerve as it couldn’t be more accurate. This person is a toxic manager - just look at how they speak about their staff! Classic civil servant. If only their staff knew what they really think about them, they would be leaving in droves!

Well you didn't, you pushed them to attend on a non-working day and don't seem to be listening to other posters tbh

You are not accommodating their perfectly reasonable request or respecting their right to life outside work

I wouldn't attend either. If its not compulsory why would you expect someone to go? These events are usually pointless anyway. I've never understood why companies do this kind of thing and expect everyone else to want to go when in truth most see it as a complete ball ache, but then I've never really been one for corporate 'extra mile' bullshit.

Sorry about that. You might have to let it go.

I do think there are wider societal issues with jobs changing too fast for people who just want to do their same job to keep up with. But I accept it does not fit the rigid toxic manager narrative here.

Classic civil servant. If only their staff knew what they really think about them, they would be leaving in droves!

Lol, another classic projection. Only ever worked in private practice. Never civil service. Would love it if my junior team would leave, so I can replace them with hungrier people who would jump at the opportunity to learn and progress.

@traintocatch as an example of when working on your day off is essential:
I work in horticulture. Normally director waters at weekend. He's on holiday. So I went both days this weekend, one day with 6yo DS with me as DH having a well deserved, weather dependent night away. If I hadn't have done this, 1000s of pounds worth of stock would have to be binned as it would be dead. Which is 3 months work already, and actually amounts to about 5 months in total.

The problem of low productivity in the UK isn't due to people refusing to attend pointless staff events on their non-work days.

Apologies to all the MN Gradgrinds out there, but employees are allowed to have lives and boundaries. They are even allowed to prioritise those lives over your precious company culture. You employ them to do a job of work, you don't own them.

If yiur employees don't seem interested in 'going the extra mile' for you, or aren't engaged with furthering their careers in your company, perhaps ask yourself why. Or maybe review your recruitment procedures, given so many managers here appear to have employed such duds...

Just a kind reminder than any fantasist sitting on the sofa can go online and make up all sorts of guff about how much power and authority they wield over made up subordinates.

They're easy to spot with their lack of understanding of industry. For example, they boast about how they're going to sack all their made up employees and automate their work, without considering the fact that if the business no longer has a team of employees to manage, it also won't need a manager.

This person has decided to work part time and they are being made to look bad to not want to work on their non working day. It doesn't matter what they do with it or if they choose to not flexi their time.

It's also not reasonable for this colleague to be compared to other colleagues who work weekends and take one for the team etc.

They might be doing this for their mental health or caring for an elderly relative. It doesn't matter. They work 4 days a week and that's when their work takes place.

Would love it if my junior team would leave, so I can replace them with hungrier people who would jump at the opportunity to learn and progress.

Your entire junior team is useless?

Gosh, that's awfy bad luck, isn't it? What are the chances, eh?

If yiur employees don't seem interested in 'going the extra mile' for you, or aren't engaged with furthering their careers in your company, perhaps ask yourself why. Or maybe review your recruitment procedures, given so many managers here appear to have employed such duds...

I inherited the team, did not recruit them. They don't go the extra mile in terms of upskilling but they don't leave either. Wish I was toxic enough a manager to make them leave, but somehow they stay with me, even said they liked working for me. It is really puzzling.

No I don't expect a medal.

Well aren't they lucky you'll entertain them to keep food on the table? 🤣🤣

Keep digging.

If they can take their day a different day and they don’t have any other responsibilities on that day then you would think they would at least try to attend.

As someone who works Part Time, I have worked on my ‘day off’ to keep the place open when a Religious Holiday has taken place. I do have Children and have had to re-arrange things but I did it as it doesn’t happen very often. Also, if any of my children have been unwell on my ‘work day’ I’ve been able to go in on a different day as these things work both ways.

yup, as I said, "no bishop, no king"

why when its a bunch of poop?

I would go parttime just to get out of your team building days 🤢

You shouldn’t be a Manager. Clueless.

Yes you are right - good spot.

The junior team are useful for a job that is rapidly becoming obsolete due to technology. I tried to upskill them (still do) but it is going over their heads. I inherited the team and doing the best I can with them but I cannot cover for them forever especially where there are big organisational changes coming up in the firm and roles are going to be merged and re-looked.

Not sure if it is due to complacency or lack of inherent intellect or expecting to do just their jobs and no more.

It may be, may be not, but if you ever want to ask work a favour, it’ll be remembered.

Good lord!

The lowly junior team toiling away like monkeys while the benevolent Head of Department looks down at them with disdain.

I don't think they will need a wankfest with a facilitator to know the culture is toxic, so well done you.

Honestly- you speak of your 'team' with such disrespect.

No wonder they don't want to go above and beyond for you.

It's probably not their intellect, but they are just - what the current word is - quietly quitting. Giving you no more than the bare minimum.

You never heard of making an entire pool of employees redundant because the job is restructured? Erm, you are the one betraying your lack of understanding of how the workplace and employment laws work.

I am fine to go if it affects the manager too but the premise is that if there is no team of employees to manage is a false one. The manager will simply manage a new team of employees, which will have to be hired, with the right skills that fit the new order in the workplace. With AI coming in, we don't need people to do the grunt work but people to analyse the results. Those are higher skills and require people with more academic ability than a secretary or admin person.