Should You Volunteer to Work Weekends?

Human resources expert Liz Ryan, writing for Forbes magazine, talks about how people in a salaried position can perform weekend work without going through burnout or having a confrontation with a boss. She uses the example of an IT developer's boss who frequently asks for people to volunteer to work on weekends. See how this story plays out and how Ryan says the person should deal with it.

The Scenario

The IT software developer says he only volunteers for weekend work once per quarter. He already puts in overtime, working slightly more than 40 hours per week. The IT manager asks for staffers to help out by putting in extra hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Rather than rescheduling time during the week or budgeting for another employee to work weekends, the manager of the department solves the problem by asking for volunteers.

Rather than work for free, the developer said he would work on a Saturday in exchange for a day off during the week. His manager replied back that every salaried position comes with overtime. Two days after the conversation, the manager asked the developer to volunteer for weekend work. Clearly, the manager didn't pay attention to the issue raised by his subordinate. The developer said it never occurred to the manager that he was putting a burden on the employees of the department.

Legal Matters

Legally, the manager might be correct, depending on the developer's income. Federal overtime regulations, as of July 2017, stipulate that anyone earning less than $23,660 per year should receive overtime pay, no matter if they are salaried or hourly employees. The Obama Administration tried to double that amount in 2016, but the updated regulation may cause the salary to roll back to the $23,660 amount during the presidency of Donald Trump.

How to Handle Salary, Overtime and Weekend Work

There are several reasons why people don't speak up about volunteering for weekend work in exchange for time off during the week. Some people want to be agreeable and show they are team players. Some might want a good performance review or think working on the weekends can lead to a bonus. Others simply don't know how to say "no" or fear getting in trouble with their supervisor. What it comes down to is the possibility of getting a reward later or the negative feelings that come with fear of what other people may think of you.

Take the lead and learn to set boundaries. Saying "no" and offering an alternative solution makes you a leader in your department, even if your job title doesn't say so. Talk to your IT manager, remembering that good supervisors generally listen to feedback and respond well.

Weekend work for salaried employees shouldn't be a sticky issue when it comes to overtime. If you run into a problem with this issue, look over your contract and talk to human resources as a start if your boss refuses to listen.

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