Yesterday one of the managers in my firm (not my direct manager) called my desk and asked if I could work this weekend. I said no, I’m not available.
He said that “the client wants the deliverable a week early, so what was now due to them on the 21st is now due on the 14th, so we’re really going to have to scramble over the weekend to get this done, so we really need you in for the full weekend. It’ll probably be 12 hours each day. Can I ask what you’re so busy with this weekend?”
I said “Like I said, I’m not available this weekend, and I don’t need to justify that. I especially don’t know why you agreed to an earlier deadline at the last minute without first checking to see if people were available”
The manager said “well as you can see, we’re in a bind, and we really expect you to step up. But if you absolutely refuse to cancel your plans, then you’re going to have to use vacation time, and it’ll be 24 hours of it”
I said “Now you’re just being ridiculous. I’m not going to use vacation time for the weekend. I have plans, and it’s out of line for you to suggest I cancel them. I’ve stepped up plenty of times to help this company and I’ve never been paid overtime for it, but this weekend I’m busy, and there will not be any further discussion about that.”
My direct manager took my side, but he seemed to empathize with the other manager’s intent. I am still aghast that the other manager agreed to an earlier deadline and just expects staff to drop everything for the entire weekend.
This has seriously made me question my loyalty to my current firm. I could chalk this up to a bad manager, but the fact that my own manager (who is a decent person) only half-heartedly sided with me tells me that this is part of our corporate culture.