How to Say ‘No’ When You’re Called into Work out of Hours

It’s human nature that, when saying ‘no’ to someone, we feel as though we have to justify ourselves. As a result, if you want to say ‘no’ to working, you’ll probably feel as though you owe your boss a reason; it’s important to remember, though, that you don’t owe anybody an explanation.

It’s advisable to give some context (a flat-out ‘no’ can come across as too blunt, and your perceived coldness won’t work in your favour in the long term) but do avoid going into too much depth. When you start filling in the small, insignificant details, it can seem more like an excuse than a real reason.

For example, if you start waffling on about how you can’t come into work because you have to clean your kitchen, give your dog a bath and then go and look for new curtains, this turns into an excuse-like answer.

Always remember that you’re not doing anything wrong by refusing your boss’s request. You were not scheduled to work, so you don’t need to go in — and you don’t need to feel guilty about it, either.

Of course, if you’re available next time, then happily say ‘yes’. But if you aren’t, this doesn’t mean that you should be afraid to say ‘no’.

Although this is inappropriate (and could be considered bad management), some bosses may continue to pester you to work, even after you’ve already told them you can’t.

By doing so, they’re revealing that either they’re genuinely desperate or that they believe they can change your mind. If it’s a case of the latter, then it’s important that you don’t change your original answer, as this will only encourage their behaviour and make it increasingly harder for you to say ‘no’.

By being firm, and sticking to your original reply, you’ll show your boss that you’re unwilling to budge, and that further pestering is pointless. Of course, if they continue to ask, then this would be not only inappropriate but also unreasonable on your boss’s part. If this is the case, you may need to reassess your current situation and be a little bit stronger in your message.

When saying ‘no’, ensure that you exude confidence.

As soon as you start to waver or hesitate, you’ll give the impression that you could be persuaded to change your mind and that, with a bit of coaxing, you’ll eventually agree to come into work. Don’t let this happen.

Instead, be assertive — if your decision is ‘no’, then stick to it and don’t say ‘maybe’. When you confidently stand your ground, people are a lot more likely to accept your answer.

Whatever the reason for saying ‘no’, it’s understandable to worry that this could affect your chance at a promotion or, simply, your current relationship with your boss.

You don’t want them to see you as that person who let them down when they needed help, for example, nor do you want to lose out on that junior management position to someone else just because they were able to show up.

Therefore, to preserve your reputation and soften the blow, let your boss know that although you’re unavailable this time, you’re open to being called in the next time something happens. Despite saying ‘no’ to the current request, you’re following up with a positive offer; it’s also a good idea that when you do return to work, you go the extra mile to stay in your boss’s good books and demonstrate your commitment to the job.

Just because you’re unavailable, it doesn’t mean that you can’t offer suggestions that could resolve the issue.

Perhaps a task can be delegated to someone else, or you could say you’d be happy to come in earlier the next day and ensure that everything is up to speed.

This shows that although you aren’t available to work at that time, you do care about helping with the resolution of a problem. Stand your ground, but don’t completely disregard the situation at hand.

In situations where your boss tries to guilt, threaten or emotionally manipulate you, it’s vitally important to let them know that you’re not going to fold. It shouldn’t come to this, but if your boss turns nasty and starts issuing threats in order to twist your arm, don’t take the bait. Try to stay calm and professional and reiterate your original point.

A good manager understands and respects the fact that their staff need time away from work. Someone questioning your commitment to your job, or threatening to make your working life more difficult, should not be a valid reason for you to come in. Besides, any manager that disregards the fact that you have a personal life, and expects you to put the needs of the company first, is not the kind of boss that you want to be working for.

Following up from the previous point, a good way to deflect threats and deal with their unreasonable demands is by reiterating your rights.

Make sure that you’re up to date with local and national laws that apply to your industry and role, and familiarise yourself with your employment contract as there could be certain points that you could use in your favour.

If your employer demands that you come in to work and starts making unfair requests, you can stop them at their tracks by pointing out that your employment contract is being violated and that you’re not getting the levels of rest and recuperation you need to effectively do your job.

That said, if nothing changes, then you should think seriously about taking your skills elsewhere.

If it’s a very rare occurrence and something genuinely unexpected has happened, you can forgive your boss for calling you in. But if it’s becoming a frequent thing and you’re constantly working outside your contracted hours, then one of two things is happening: your boss is either demonstrating a total lack of resource and time management or they’re taking advantage of you.

If it gets to this point, you should sit down with your manager (during normal working hours!), and request to address the issue.

Finally, if your boss offers to give you the hours back in lieu, make sure you get it in writing. Unfortunately, many managers tend to ‘forget’ about your sacrifices or, even worse, take them for granted, so if you’re offered the time back, make sure you get it.

If you’re quite a compliant person who can be easily persuaded to change their mind, then you need to find a way to stop yourself from saying ‘yes’ to extra work you didn’t ask for in the first place.

A good way to do this is to consider the cost of saying ‘yes’ and giving up your free time to dash into the office. Whether you have arranged doctor appointments, made plans with friends or have family obligations, consider how caving into your boss’s requests could derail your entire day and the impact this could have on your personal life.

Do you often prioritise your work over everything else? If so, saying ‘no’ could be challenge for you.

Establishing a healthy work-life balance is essential for many reasons, including your mental health and family life. Relearning how to approach your work in a healthy way can be a process, but a good way to start is by setting clear boundaries for both yourself and your employer —  especially if they’re now accustomed to you always showing up when you’re not obligated to.

Next time you’re asked to come into work during your time off, make sure to communicate to your boss that you need to take a step back and focus on other matters.

Remember: there’s nothing wrong with covering shifts for people and coming in outside your regular working hours, but you also need to consider the impact this can have on your personal life and overall health. You need your time off, so don’t allow yourself to feel guilty or pressured into giving that up.

More often than not, a firm ‘no, I can’t’ will do the trick. As long as you’re confident in your answer, you should be fine to put your feet up and continue enjoying your time off.

Join the discussion! Have you been asked to come into work out of hours? What did you say or do to get out of it? Let us know in the comments section below!

This article is an update of an earlier version published on 24 September 2014 and contains contributions by Melina Theodorou.