If you want extra holiday to compensate you for working these weekends you need to raise that in your negotiations. I have worked on an earlier project and have seen how miserable this can go. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. To submit a question for Ask a 20-Something, email calbertdeitch@inc.com. The reality is that when we do something unpleasant by choice, we get the feeling that were doing something good and virtuous, but when were forced, it becomes much more unpleasant. You may contact me at _________ (mention your contact number). If you are able to help us, please let us know your availability, and we can discuss further. Should I proceed to persue a job, or am I being used as free labor? The four-day workweek is not a new concept, but Covid and its impact on the corporate world have been a catalyst for its gaining popularity. They may have questions about the specific details, like the hard and soft boundaries you will set around your work: Will we email after hours? If youre going to send someone an email, tell them why youre sending it. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If the agreement says nothing about it, then the notice period is 7 days. Read More: 5 Quick, Easy (and Free!) 1 I am scheduled to work fewer hours next week due to the office being closed on holiday for the 4th of July. Shorter workdays were expected to create more demand for workers, and also boost their wages. Even if you work in a casual environment, theres still a significant percent of the working population that views them as unprofessional. You can understand that frustration, right? we all are willing to work extra hours as a compensation. As a manager, you can leverage this facet of the human mind by keeping your weekend shifts open. Thats because the kinds of words you use can instantly appease or upset someone. Keep in mind that this doesnt have to be a fancy meal. It won't help you if you draw vague and nebulous commitments from your boss. For all other employees, whether or not the employer can take any disciplinary action for any refusal to work weekends will depend on the terms of their employment contract. I've completed our project ahead of schedule, so you'll have the follow-up paperwork by May 25. Some employees hate it, others can’t get enough. You might be willing to sacrifice anything for your company. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Revisit the conversation again in a few months. In college, I got a glimpse of that reality. Consider scheduling a team meeting or one-on-one discussions to address any questions, concerns, or suggestions raised by employees. 6 ways companies are 'quiet firing' white-collar workers. Since not everyone may be able to stop and eat when a meal is . Remember a few minutes ago when you imagined that glorious life with a permanent, three-day weekend? Additionally, allow your employees to swap shifts amongst themselves so that they can coordinate if a shift really doesnt work for them. A work-life balance can be hard for employees to achieve when they work weekends. If a lack of available staff is an issue in the context of shop or betting workers, employers could try to ensure they have an appropriate number of Sunday-only workers, as these individuals will not have the right to opt-out. Its no longer considered crazy to wear jeans in the workplace or grab drinks with your boss after hours, but when it comes to using emojis in an email, the lines get a little blurrier. Make it worth their while--if not with overtime pay,then with perks, special recognition, comp time, or performance bonuses. I would like to email my boss to ask I can work a few extra hours each day to make up for the lost time. That's why they get it. Freshman year, my academic advisor informed me and my peers that we could plan our own schedules and I used my newfound agency to enroll in classes Monday through Thursday, leaving Fridays completely free. Thank you for your understanding and support. There may be occasions, because of the nature of a business and customer demand, that an employer may need their staff to work at weekends, even when this isnt normally the case. However, we are hoping that you can appreciate the urgency of this situation and help us out. For example, if you need papers graded, but your employee has a sick child, let them do this from home. weekends and holidays because it's "required" and inevitably you will not want to work some of those weekends and holidays because it "affects your work-life balance". Companies around the world are experimenting with a four-day workweek, and participants are reporting feeling less burned out, more productive, and happier. Know that you have the power to ask for it and negotiate when possible. Document your productivity, including any obstacles you faced, as well as what worked well for you versus what didnt. Your junior staffers, on the other hand, may have had no idea they'd be expected to work nights and weekends when they signed on--and that's why they're pissed off. I hope you're at least compensating them for the extra work. Make sure you let your employees know that you are aware of their responsibilities and their life outside of your business. Even before coronavirus turned our world upside down, numerous studies documented the impact of long working hours. Take the time to write your employees notes or even give . The results confirmed that shorter workweeks improved work-life balance. Then move on to explain that you want to discuss the work schedule and some ideas you have for a flexible schedule. Have a genuine conversation about why they feel it's inappropriate, and why youbelieve you're not asking too much of them. The Workplace Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for members of the workforce navigating the professional setting. I am okay with working on weekends unless it affects my I hope this email finds you well. Now, countries like Spain, Denmark, and New Zealand are following suit. Can you help me make a memo, if not share any sample memo regarding Weekend Work for employees? Ensure that your tone is empathetic and understanding of their personal time. (Insert details about the request, what you are asking for and why.) Overtime. 6183275 Many people will see these things and think, My boss is working, so I need to work, too. So if you decide to check email on Sunday evenings, for example, dont message your employees until Monday. Employee Management Feb 08, 2022 How To Keep Employees Happy When They Have To Work Weekends Out of all the things that upset employees, working weekends and holidays is likely pretty high up on the list. Now, on day 3, I am getting an email saying, "Please provide your acceptance that you are ready to work on weekends as well as on holidays if required so that we can move ahead." . Once you have determined exactly the type of schedule change you will ask for and the specific details that go along with it, request a meeting with your manager to discuss your proposal. It wouldn't worry me. See more from Ascend here. The seven-day week, as we know it, was coined by the Babylonians, who believed in seven celestial bodies (the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn). And hey, you just might make a good impression on your boss while youre at it! If feasible, make it easy for employees to work from home if they need to. How has everyones personal productivity and self-care been affected? Why you should ask employer reference check questions. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Out of all the things that upset employees, working weekends and holidays is likely pretty high up on the list. Consider creating a weekend program where employees can actually sign up to work weekends. We understand that this may not be ideal, but we are counting on your commitment and dedication to help us through this challenging time. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to write an email asking employees to work weekends while demonstrating respect, transparency, and consideration for their time and well-being. DavidsonMorris are specialists in UK employment law. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You are basically saying that you'll do it only if it doesn't interfere with whatever you want to do on your weekends and holidays. My experienced employees get it, but some of the junior ones seem to consider it an affront to their entire existence. Stack Exchange network consists of 182 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Sometimes that means just straightforwardly assigning the work. 3. Writing more content won't necessarily boost your odds of hearing "yes" from your boss when you ask to go remote. Start here if you want to know how to write a formal email requesting something. What company benefits are most important to you? If you find yourself in a similar position, heres what I want you to know: You dont have to work a certain number of hours to be productive. 4. That'susually part of the dealwhen people sign on, whether it's agreed to explicitly or not. What are the maximum number of hours an employee can work? This helps them understand why you want to work from home and why they should consider the possibility. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Thus, the usage of the work email on the weekends depends on what you can control. Several thousands of years ago, every civilization had their own measure of time. It feels disrespectful, and even your most passionate young employees want to be treated with respect. More explanation below. That's why they get it. The neighboring Egyptians followed a calendar with eight days in a week. The company is asking you to work whenever the business requires it. Often, it only takes a handful of people to drive this kind of change. The first step is to set up a meeting with the intent of sharing your views. It's hard to ask for written assurance that your "concerns will be taken care " without specifying those concerns in detail. Dear Tom, I'm writing to remind you of our previous email conversation from April 10 requesting time off from June 1 to June 14. And I wasn't earning multiple salaries for it. But Fords decision was not driven by his generosity or care for his employees wellbeing. You can use ZoomShifts PTO features to assign extra PTO to weekend-shift employees and keep track of their accrual separate from the rest of your team. @PhilipKendall Yes I understand that. State your case. 'When necessary' is pretty vague. Employee Request to Work on Weekend Off. Offering extra paid time off is one method how to motivate employees to work weekends. In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), when does this shot of Sean Connery happen? I feel pretty comfortable guessing that this is your issue right now, especially because you're probably a lot more passionate about your startup than many of your employees are. Your KPIs will of course vary depending on what job or field you work in. You already suspect a similar situation here. This may not work, but I kept my concerns and that's fine with me and I am satisfied. When you interview a candidate about their employment history and skills, their answers can be biasedeven if they're striving to be sincere. Have clarified that I can be available for max 2 weekends each month in case of any critical requirement and compensation in terms of pay or additional leaves should be granted. If possible, offer flexibility or alternative arrangements such as adjusted schedules, time off in lieu, or the option to work remotely, to address their concerns. But when your definition of "sometimes" significantly outpaces what your employees consider normal? Another way to reward your employees for working weekends and keep them cheery is to feed them. How do I get them to understand that this is a) necessaryand b) how you prove yourself worthy of promotions? Source: Adapted from If You Multitask During Meetings, Your Team Will, Too, by Ryan Fuller et al. Answer: Yes, it is important to provide logistical details in the email. Wed like to work with you on an experiment for a month to see if we can make this happen. Maybe even doing the work of multiple people. You may not be writing a college paper, but that doesnt mean youre not getting graded. Can I refuse to work on weekends? Share the results of your experiment and see how they react. If your manager denies your initial proposal, dont give up. The nine-to-five job is based on a model less than 100 years old, and its about time we rethink it. Asking to for time off to train for Second Job, Manager becomes verbally abusive after asking for clarification on design decision, Handling unusual email from possible recruit. Should I add more details to it? Sundays are covered by the Working Time Regulations 1998 which provide basic minimum rights to work a reasonable number of hours, including an 11-hour break between shifts and one day off per week or two days off a fortnight. Subject: Urgent Request for Assistance on the Weekend. If the employer is looking for more permanent cover for weekend-working, agreement should be reached in writing with the employee. ), Read More: 3 Basic Email Mistakes That Make You Look Really Unprofessional. Have a conversation with your manager. It was just that the answer was very generic (already included in other comments) and I was expecting some pointers. Elle Griffin is a freelance writer and editor for lifestyle publications. A little thanks can go a long way in the workplace so don't forget to tell you employees, "thank you.". There is a rarer case in which these. Otherwise, agreement will need to be reached between the employer and employee. I am writing to you today with an urgent request. Now, this doesn't mean I'm never willing to work outside of regular hours. I did mentioned the nasty things I went through in the last project where I worked several months including weekends without any agreement like this. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. And it's not like money is the only incentive there is. Bad grammar, spelling mistakes, and even a lack of an introduction, body, and conclusion make you sound as though youre trying to get to inbox zero, not be a responsible employee.