Last week I got an email from a manager inviting me and the rest of my team to a work event in another city. They said they really wanted us all to come and it was super important for the whole team from the area to be together. They said we'd be paid for our time plus travel and accommodation covered. They asked for a definite answer by EOD so they can organise. We spoke to partners etc and then accepted.
Yesterday I get another message from the manager. They have had some more employees, who actually live in the same city as the event, put their hand up for this event, so they're going to take them instead. They said we could still choose to come if we really wanted to but we wouldn't be paid and they wouldn't cover any expenses for us.
So really they just wanted numbers, and went with the cheaper option. I'm not mad about not going because it'd be a hassle to drive there plus I'm an introvert who's not big on events. I just find it pretty rude, to make a big deal about how important it is for us to be there just to go “oh nah actually we have people who wont cost anything.”