work/life balance

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Had a staff meeting last week, we were discussing upcoming jobs, one of them next week involves an overnight stay. I’ve arranged with a couple of mates to go to a concert outside company time, on the Friday evening of the same week, this has been planned for ~3 months now and I've entered it into my company outlook calender, I didn’t bother taking a holiday as I work 8-4 and the concert starts at 6:30. So I said to my boss can I not go away on the Thursday night as I don’t want to be late back on Friday, then he just went mental, saying how he’s putting his foot down over this and if there’s work to be done it has to be done. If I don’t go I’m going to face disciplinarily action.

I’m just wondering what are my rights here and what should I do? Does this mean I can never plan anything again outside company hours unless it’s on a weekend? I’ve read though my contract and it has the usual bit about hours being 8-4 but subject to change to suit operational requirements and some overnight stays are expected.

[rainagain]

it would be a Thursday night to Friday stay. The days are decided by the customer, who still haven’t made their mind up! I suppose I was foolishly hoping my boss would tell them any day in December but just not that particular Friday.

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I'm flying within the UK, but I don't know what times the flights will be, as we don't get to book them ourselves anymore. I don't think if I left on Friday I'd get back in time

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Regarding my contract, it gives my home office as my normal work location, but also states work on site is expected 'as required' also with regards to pay, we have no overtime entitlement, again my contract states I may be required to work in excess of my normal hours, but apparently my salary takes this into account, so it says! In the past I have frequently travelled on Sundays in my own time when working away, so it's not like I've never given anything to the company.

I wouldn't be half as angry as I am now if he had handled it differently, if he had just replied to my request with something along the lines of "I'll ask the client if they will let us do the work on any of the first four days of that week, but if they don't agree than I'm afraid you'll have to work the Friday. I'm sorry you'll miss your concert but you can claim your ticket back on expenses" It's although he has no understanding of me having a life outside work.

I don't work for a bank just an engineering firm.