Staff Given Extra Day's Annual Leave if they attended Xmas Party

amanda1024

lincroft1710 said:

amanda1024 said:

I can imagine you could potentially argue that this discriminates against those with childcare/caring responsibilities, so it might be worth flagging that to HR

Having child caring or any other caring responsibilities is not a protected characteristic

It’s still discrimination, just not illegal. If the organisation wanted to present themselves as diverse and inclusive, they might appreciate some feedback that this sort of policy isn’t ideal. If they don’t care then OP’s complaint is unlikely to get anywhere.

General_Grant

Having people in work who were not necessarily partying the night away the previous day means they are likely to work to their nornal standards.  Those who were at the party may not be working well and more of a problem to efficient functioning of the business.

prowla

Not fair and a bit mean-spirited, but that's about it.

I've always thought that the company schemes which reward some people disincentivise others.

Employee of the month and suchlike are effectively saying to the rest of the staff that their contribution isn't valued.

baser999

I worked in a company many years ago where several of the staff had extra days off each year for religious reasons. They were of non-Christian faith but still took Christmas off since the office closed down. A colleague asked the management if he could take ‘their’ holidays off and was told no as he wasn’t of their religion. He suggested this was unfair as those staff were getting another week or so off each year but his arguments fell on deaf ears.

lincroft1710

amanda1024 said:

lincroft1710 said:

amanda1024 said:

I can imagine you could potentially argue that this discriminates against those with childcare/caring responsibilities, so it might be worth flagging that to HR

Having child caring or any other caring responsibilities is not a protected characteristic

It’s still discrimination, just not illegal. If the organisation wanted to present themselves as diverse and inclusive, they might appreciate some feedback that this sort of policy isn’t ideal. If they don’t care then OP’s complaint is unlikely to get anywhere.

Perhaps the organisation aren't interested in presenting themselves as diverse. I would agree with GG about the probable condition of those who attended the party

xxandyxexx

Marcon said:

xxandyxexx said:

Hi All, 

I am looking for some advice. 

The company I work for had their Christmas party/outing last night. I was unable to attend due to already having plans in place for that evening way before the company Christmas party/outing was arranged. 

This morning I have learnt that all staff who attended the Christmas party/outing last night have been given today off as an extra day's annual leave. Whereas staff who were unable to attend, like myself, have to work. 

I voiced my concern about this to the office manager and was told because I didn't go, I don't get today off (an extra day's annual leave) . 

Is this correct and acceptable? I feel like it is unfair and that I've been treated differently to the other employees.  

Correct - if that's the company policy, then nothing unlawful about it.
Acceptable - probably appeals more to the employees who went to the party than those who didn't!
Unfair - I can see why it might feel that way, but maybe the employer saw it as a team bonding exercise and is reinforcing that message.

You've said in your post that 'staff who were unable to attend, like myself, have to work' so you've not been treated differently to any of the non-attendees at the party.

But here's the interesting bit. Another member of staff who didn't attend the Christmas party was also given the day off. 

It seems like I was the only one who wasn't given the day off. 

Marcon

xxandyxexx said:

Marcon said:

xxandyxexx said:

Hi All, 

I am looking for some advice. 

The company I work for had their Christmas party/outing last night. I was unable to attend due to already having plans in place for that evening way before the company Christmas party/outing was arranged. 

This morning I have learnt that all staff who attended the Christmas party/outing last night have been given today off as an extra day's annual leave. Whereas staff who were unable to attend, like myself, have to work. 

I voiced my concern about this to the office manager and was told because I didn't go, I don't get today off (an extra day's annual leave) . 

Is this correct and acceptable? I feel like it is unfair and that I've been treated differently to the other employees.  

Correct - if that's the company policy, then nothing unlawful about it.
Acceptable - probably appeals more to the employees who went to the party than those who didn't!
Unfair - I can see why it might feel that way, but maybe the employer saw it as a team bonding exercise and is reinforcing that message.

You've said in your post that 'staff who were unable to attend, like myself, have to work' so you've not been treated differently to any of the non-attendees at the party.

But here's the interesting bit. Another member of staff who didn't attend the Christmas party was also given the day off. 

It seems like I was the only one who wasn't given the day off. 

Bit hard to answer helpfully when you give incorrect information in your post...

xxandyxexx

Marcon said:

xxandyxexx said:

Marcon said:

xxandyxexx said:

Hi All, 

I am looking for some advice. 

The company I work for had their Christmas party/outing last night. I was unable to attend due to already having plans in place for that evening way before the company Christmas party/outing was arranged. 

This morning I have learnt that all staff who attended the Christmas party/outing last night have been given today off as an extra day's annual leave. Whereas staff who were unable to attend, like myself, have to work. 

I voiced my concern about this to the office manager and was told because I didn't go, I don't get today off (an extra day's annual leave) . 

Is this correct and acceptable? I feel like it is unfair and that I've been treated differently to the other employees.  

Correct - if that's the company policy, then nothing unlawful about it.
Acceptable - probably appeals more to the employees who went to the party than those who didn't!
Unfair - I can see why it might feel that way, but maybe the employer saw it as a team bonding exercise and is reinforcing that message.

You've said in your post that 'staff who were unable to attend, like myself, have to work' so you've not been treated differently to any of the non-attendees at the party.

But here's the interesting bit. Another member of staff who didn't attend the Christmas party was also given the day off. 

It seems like I was the only one who wasn't given the day off. 

Bit hard to answer helpfully when you give incorrect information in your post...

My original post was information I had at the time.

My 2nd post (today, above) is further information & screenshots I've been given, that staff who were also unable to attend the Xmas party/outing were also give the day off. 

Marcon

xxandyxexx said:

Marcon said:

xxandyxexx said:

Marcon said:

xxandyxexx said:

Hi All, 

I am looking for some advice. 

The company I work for had their Christmas party/outing last night. I was unable to attend due to already having plans in place for that evening way before the company Christmas party/outing was arranged. 

This morning I have learnt that all staff who attended the Christmas party/outing last night have been given today off as an extra day's annual leave. Whereas staff who were unable to attend, like myself, have to work. 

I voiced my concern about this to the office manager and was told because I didn't go, I don't get today off (an extra day's annual leave) . 

Is this correct and acceptable? I feel like it is unfair and that I've been treated differently to the other employees.  

Correct - if that's the company policy, then nothing unlawful about it.
Acceptable - probably appeals more to the employees who went to the party than those who didn't!
Unfair - I can see why it might feel that way, but maybe the employer saw it as a team bonding exercise and is reinforcing that message.

You've said in your post that 'staff who were unable to attend, like myself, have to work' so you've not been treated differently to any of the non-attendees at the party.

But here's the interesting bit. Another member of staff who didn't attend the Christmas party was also given the day off. 

It seems like I was the only one who wasn't given the day off. 

Bit hard to answer helpfully when you give incorrect information in your post...

My original post was information I had at the time.

My 2nd post (today, above) is further information & screenshots I've been given, that staff who were also unable to attend the Xmas party/outing were also give the day off. 

Then talking to your employer about why you've been 'singled out' is your next step. Nobody here can guess the answer.

Savvy_Sue

A long time ago, our office party started in the afternoon. We went in and did very little work before the office closed and a coach picked us up to take us to the venue.

If you didn't want to go to the party, you couldn't work, so you had to book a day's leave. For the rest of us, it was a working day. 

Fair? Maybe not. Legal? Almost certainly, the union never challenged it.