Boss asking me to come in, after telling me I'm off today

[onederlanned]

I'm a land surveyor, so i work outside. It's raining today in Phoenix. My boss texted me around 5 am (start time was 7) telling me along with my three co-workers (group text) that due to rain we're off today. Then about 4 hours later, he texts me, not in a group text, saying "it looks like I do need you. Can you please come in"?

I replied "I just came to frys electronics with my brother to do Christmas shopping" assuming he knew the closest frys is a half hour away. That basically told him that I couldn't be in any sooner than 2 hours from that point. I've not heard anything back from him though, and it's been just about two hours since I told him I was at frys.

I just wanted to get some other opinions on my boss's antics.telling your employees they're off, saying "looks like we are not gonna work today. See you tomorrow." Then a few hours later, asking one, or multiple employees I don't know, to come in.

It's his company, and very small..one office, about 9 or 10 employees. So I.think he's just never been told what he can and can't do when it comes to managing his people.

 

[T. Calderone]

Since four hours had gone by, probably nobody wants to go to work after being told they had the day off. But I don't think your boss was being unreasonable asking you to come in the way he did, nicely.

 

[Pretty_Diamonds]

I think he has the right to ask you. But you also have the right to tell him no.. you made plans because you thought you were off. I don't think it's that crazy lol.

 

[alasdairm]

^ this.

alasdair

 

[hydroazuanacaine]

i agree it's not unreasonable to say you had already made plans and were unable to make it in, but in my opinion you should have replied exactly that -- with a "sorry" because this person can fire and give raises. unless you and your boss have a really personal working relationship, talking about your brother and where you're christmas shopping could make an already disappointing reply annoying. especially because it didn't include a straight yes or no. someone with more experience could correct me, but i consider it professional to keep personal details about absences from work -- excluding details about scheduled vacation time when asked about for social reasons, which this was not -- to yourself. if you regularly display solid work ethic, details are not needed to justify the absence. otherwise, details can come off as excuses.