Business Owner Threatens to Assign Volunteers to Work His Private Event on a Saturday if His Employees Don't Willingly Volunteer: 'We Don't Work Saturdays.'

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Aug 11, 2026 4:00 PM EDT

Would you volunteer to work on your day off if it meant you got paid more? 

Every employee has different priorities. Some employees would work every single day if it meant they were getting paid more, because they're trying to save as much money as humanly possible to achieve their life goals. Other employees will only do the bare minimum required of them because they value their time outside of work more than making as much money as possible. Any normal employer understands that most of their employees will be in the latter category. They do their work, they go home, and they don't do extra work until they're back in the office the next day. Unless you're paying your employees an exorbitant amount of money, you really cannot expect much more from them than that. Unless you tell them from the beginning that they'll have to work nights and weekends, you shouldn't expect them to do so for little or no extra money. 

The employee in this story is annoyed that he is being voluntold to work on a Saturday. It would be different if he had a shift at his company on Saturday, but he doesn't. His boss wants him to work a private event at the office. Because none of the employees are volunteering to do it, the boss is threatening to assign the volunteers himself. This sounds like a great place to work at…not!

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  • A business owner asks his employees to volunteer to work on Saturdays for a private event hosted at the office.
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A business owner asks his employees to volunteer to work on Saturdays for a private event hosted at the office. 

    The man in the photo is a model. 

  • "If we don't get volunteers for Saturday, we will assign volunteers."

    We don't work Saturdays. This is for the owner's private event that's being hosted in our office.
    via u/Phr8
  • dbolinmartin No me, but a guy I know had this happen on a Friday. His coworkers: We're all meeting up tomorrow at the bosses house to work on his boat dock. My friend: He's paying ALL of us to work on his dock??? Coworkers: No, but he'll have cold beer for us. My friend: I can buy my own beer; have fun, I'll see you guys Monday!
    via u/dbolinmartin
  • Unlucky_Milk_4323 "OH NOES, I dropped the tray of wine glasses.. not trained to do this, oh noes...."
    via u/Unlucky_Milk_4323
  • ennuithereyet "I KNOW they say you shouldn't do any kind food service or even really be around people for 24 hours after having a stomach bug, but am I really going to let diarrhea stop me from being a TEAM PLAYER?"
    via u/ennuithereyet
  • An employee feigns a stomach virus to get out of working on his weekend off.
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    An employee feigns a stomach virus to get out of working on his weekend off. 

    The photo is a representation. 

  • Dr_mombie "Am I really gonna let a little NOROVIRUS stop me from being an active team member in service to my work family this weekend? To that I say, NO hecking WAY! I'll be there soon, just gotta get some more barf bags and adult diapers before I start serving horsdeourves! See you soon work family!
    via u/Dr_mombie
  • TrogdorBurns Has anyone brought up that it you're assigned, then you get paid to be there? Assuming they want volunteers because they don't want to pay anyone.
    via u/TrogdorBurns
  • Phr8 OP <UPDATE> Spoke with the boss. Sounds like a brutal misspeak or she was back pedalling hard... They will be paying, but they require some people to come in and help, and we're hoping some could 'give up' their weekend to help. I gave her the benefit of the doubt then told her I unfortunately have plans out of town in wine country. I don't.
    via u/Phr8
  • People are enjoying their weekend on a Vineyard.
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    People are enjoying their weekend on a Vineyard.

    Representation by models. 

  • dabenu Doesn't matter if you're assigned. If it's not in your contact, there's no reason to be there. All they can do is offer more money until someone volunteers.
    via u/dabenu
  • Creepy-Fix3347 You're being "voluntold".
    via u/Creepy-Fix3347
  • tomalator I prefer "involunteering"
    via u/tomalator
  • Business_Garden6460 You want me to work Saturday? Then give me Monday off. Definitely make sure you're getting paid too. No pay no play
    via u/Business_Garden6460
  • LightBulb704 My work leased a small office in a strip mall to be used as a satellite location. The office itself was fine but the interior walls needed painting badly. Supervisor "Bob" asks for volunteers to come in on a Saturday and paint. I asked Bob why don't we have our maintenance do it...cause they do painting...and Bob says it will be easier to do it ourselves. I don't volunteer but others do. Saturday they all arrive to find no paint, no supplies, and no Bob. They wait around. Finally so
    via u/LightBulb704
  • Zestyclose-Ring7303 This entire situation is a lose lose. Either you give-up a Saturday to be a slave for free. Or, you are labeled as "not a team player" and are on the shortlist for the next inevitable round of layoffs.
    via u/Zestyclose-Ring7303

  • What would you do if you found yourself in this situation at work? Would you come up with an elaborate lie or work the event, even though you do not want to, to try to get on your boss's good side? 

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overworked employees antiwork workplace-stories saturday employee business owner private work toxic workplace events workplace weekend volunteer business
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