Is this fair?

[snapD]

I am out on Friday all day (off for the weekend)

There happens to be a job no one wants on Friday

So can I just go in tomorrow and say to my staff "On Friday XYZ needs to happen - can you discuss it & tell me how you are going to sort it out"

Or is that mean?

its bad management - you need to give this horrible task to someone - or have a team meeting and decide to put it on a rota.

It isn't a horrid job

It only exists this Friday

It is collecting something but it is slightly out of everyones hours

Who ever does it will get paid for it

I can;t do (I usually do) as I'm not here

could you possibly get it couriered?

No it's people (& they can't get there themselves)

can you order a taxi?

No - that would make everything easy

I have the full day covered but the afternoon people aren't insured to collect

So an AM person needs to come in to collect

Or I give up my weekend away

i dont know what that means, sorry perhaps someone else can help.

Thanks for trying

Basically a morning person needs to do 3/4 hour in an afternoon or we lose £1300 worth of business each month

So Do I order someone to do it or allow them to work it out themselves

Is this task something that would be your responsibility if you were there? If so , surely it falls to whoever is officially covering your role in your planned absence.

Why don't you go in and ask if someone wants to "volunteer" to do it. What with xmas coming, the extra money will be handy.
Explain that if no-one volunteers you're going to have appoint someone on Wedsnesday.

can you offer a bonus for doing it? ask for a volunteer and say you will have to select someone if no one comes forward.

But my deputy only works mornings - do you think it is her responsibility - it could muck up her childcare arrangements

If she's in charge of your job then I'm afraid it should be her responsibility. But try the voluteer thing first. So many people need extra cash at xmas.