Staff Meeting Out of Hours

[anjunagirl]

I've been "invited" to attend a departmental staff meeting later today, at 6pm to 9pm. I work night shift hours (11pm-8am), three days a week but today's meeting is on one of my days off. Am I within my rights to "decline" and if so, do I have to give a reason? Or can I just say, it's one of my days off and I don't want to come? I have missed one before with a valid reason but there were subsequent "digs" made by my supervisor, such as "if you'd been at the meeting, you would have known" etc.

[cassa333]

I don't think they can make you but if your supervisor is making such comments just fly back... If you were to hold the meeting properly you would have had an agenda and minutes so that anyone who was unable to attend could be kept informed. If the meeting is to give new working practises then it is up to your supervisor/manager to make sure you are informed if you are unable to attend.

[kira000]

Just to check. Do you have an employment contract? If so, have you checked it to see if it says anything about it being compulsory to attend staff meetings?

If it does, the yes, you do have to go, but it should also say something about additional pay or time off in lieu for attending during non working hours/days.

If it isnt in your contract, then technically, they cant force you to attend, but as you have found, they caould make life harder for you.

Instead of just saying no, if you want to try an appear preofessional and positive, you could discuss with your manager the reasons for your reluctance, and include things like the cost of the journey in etc, and ask if there is a way of working it out, i.e could they pay the cost of your journey, give you lieu time, or ask if you can arrange a briefing before the start of one of your shifts so you dont miss out.

Whilst one doesnt want to be taken adantage of, it is always best to appear professional and amenable to finding solutions, that way, if they dont work with you to find a way, and cause problems for you later for not coming, you have the recourse of being able to show you tried to work something out.

[buildersmate]

Not true about if it ain't written down, you can't be forced to go. What's in the 'employment contract' is a lot more than what you've been given in writing.

However I agree with the last 2 paras of Kira's answer.

[Lil O'lady]

This sounds so like the high street news agent chain that my daughter once worked for - not only out of hours staff meetings, but in a pub as well. The guy in charge was so full of little snide remarks and used to wet himself if you answered back. Weigh up carefully how much you want to stay there. Weigh up whether digs bother you. Join a union. Ask for a copy of your contract. Don't work for that which you are not paid, it is a bad principle. Suggest this important information should be printed off so all staff could have a simple photocopy. If he doesn't want to spend money on that set up an email address he can use. Or- can't he write? heehee.

[lambretta12]

If you don't have a contract then there's no need to go,If you do have one then read it very carefully & see if it states that,'you may need to work various hours & be flexible'.with or without pay.I think you do have a wright to decline as your shift supervisor should deliver the same meeting to their shift team on the relevant shift patteren.I hope that helps.

[nightmare]

My boss at my previous employer insisted that ALL meetings involving his staff be held outside working hours.
He was of the opinion that sitting in a meeting during working hours, on company time, not getting on with useful work, was a waste of resources.
We had to come in on a Bank Holiday once !
Also, he regarded extra hours (however many) worked Mon. to Fri. as "expected" of you.
He issued official memos about the above - I still have copies.

[buildersmate]

Answer repeated for the benefit of Lambretta.

'Not true about if it ain't written down, you can't be forced to go. What's in the 'employment contract' is a lot more than what you've been given in writing.'

[aniani]

In the current climate - do you want your job?

[bass-chef]

Type Your Answer Here...

[bass-chef]

do i have to attend an unpaid staff meeting on my day off

[bass-chef]

do i have to attend a staff meeting on my day off