Reasonable request by a manager

[Jo Crump]

hi there,

Im new to HR and wondered if someone could advise

I've been asked by one of our site managers, what is classed as a reasonable request to come in off their usual shift?
In my view, any training out of shift is a reasonable request to ask them in

in terms of meetings? this is guess would depend on what the meeting was about. could it wait until he was back on shift

With regards to asking them to come in for a disciplinary hearing off their shift - is this a reasonable request?

Thanks - any advise is greatly appreciated

 

[Chris Ashdown]

You are asking questions without any details on what, where, why so hard to give any sensible answer. you obviously know what you mean but it does not come across in your questions

 

[Jo Crump]

My apologies, it was just a general question really. for example if you were asked by your manager to come in out of your shift pattern due to onsite training - that's classed as reasonable? if your asked to come in out of your shift patter because of a meeting regarding site changes - is this classed as reasonable? if this is still a little too general. I'll see if I can find out a little bit more and be more specific. Thanks

 

[Patrick @ BIG in the UK]

Yes, asking someone to come in for a disciplinary hearing on their day off is a reasonable request.

Remember that if the employee is on his or her own time, they are well within their right to reject any requests by their employer, regardless of how reasonable the request is.

Chris is correct though, it's difficult to give relevant advice when we only have limited details...

 

[Jo Crump]

Thank you very much, I'll try and get a little more detail with regards to this.. but thank you for your advice, its very helpful

 

[Patrick @ BIG in the UK]

Good luck!

 

[Employment Law Clinic]

if you were asked by your manager to come in out of your shift pattern due to onsite training - that's classed as reasonable?

Could the training reasonably be delivered during the shift pattern? If so, it would be unreasonable to ask a worker to come in outside of their working patterns.

if your asked to come in out of your shift patter because of a meeting regarding site changes - is this classed as reasonable?

I can’t think why a meeting would be so important as to be held outside of the shift, but it couldn’t be held (or the details shared at a separate meeting) during the shift, so again would seem to be unreasonable.

Yes, asking someone to come in for a disciplinary hearing on their day off is a reasonable request.

I wouldn’t ever suggest a disciplinary hearing is arranged outside of a normal shift/working pattern; certainly happy to hold these during sick leave, but even then, typically only during normal working patterns. And I can’t see how it could possibly be reasonable to ask someone to attend a hearing on their day off.



Karl Limpert

 

[LawHound]

Unsurprisingly I agree with Karl, call someone in during normal shift times for any meeting or training but you, as the employer are placing your business in a weaker position by asking someone in on their own time.

 

[Newchodge]

I think you need to explain to your site manager that staff management is not about strict definitions of what is and is not reasonable. They need to assess each situation and explore whether their response is reasonable; In other words it is not reasonable (or sensible) to expect you to give a strict definition.