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Original poster

'Teambuilding' at the weekend

110 replies

whatdidyousaaay · 04/06/2024 11:33

I work 9-5 Monday to Friday and that's all I'm contracted for. Our team has had a few issues (mostly due to a couple of people being very unpleasant and upsetting everyone!) and so the boss has decided to host a teambuilding activity. One of the unpleasant people won't be attending, having made a good excuse in advance, but the other will. The event is on a Sunday and, while it's free for staff, it's an outdoor activity (which I usually like, but this is not my cup of tea) and we will need to provide our own food. The boss doesn't need to pay for this (is just paying for transport as the activity is free) so won't lose money if I don't attend. Would you just suck it up and go or would you respectfully decline? It's very much expected that we will attend.

It's all day and is around 2 hours from where we live.

YABU - of course you should go
YANBU - no way!

OP posts:
Whereinharrogate · 06/06/2024 19:40

Such a shame there's that 24 hr bug going around!

rainbowbee · 06/06/2024 19:37

I'd struggle to be polite with how hard a no that would be. Sunday afternoon? Are you taking the piss?!

PorridgeEater · 06/06/2024 19:36

What are other staff doing? What if they have children / caring responsibilities?
Did your boss / team leader ask people if they wanted this? If it's in your own time it has to be voluntary - maybe your boss is lonely and wanted some company. Guess you're not in a Union or they'd have something to say about this.

omill001 · 06/06/2024 19:13

Personally I think this in unfair and if you have children it's potentially another day of paid daycare... I don't know what country you're in but if you're in UK and have worked over 2 years, you can't get sacked for not turning up to a non work day... and your manager, needs to go back to management classes... if anyone turns up, they'll do so reluctantly... on their day off ffs!

mindutopia · 05/06/2024 14:17

No, definitely not. We had drama like this once and our manager's solution was a team building activity (though it was bowling and dinner at a restaurant, which was okay ish actually). The two people who were the source of the drama declined to attend. The rest of us did go and have a lovely drama free time without them (and got a good gossip in!). But it was on a working day, not a weekend and just down the street from our office. No way I'd give up my weekend for it.

Fluffyhoglets · 05/06/2024 14:01

Unless it was all all expenses paid team building day to to a spa - I'd not be attending anything on a weekend!

StrongasSixpence · 05/06/2024 13:59

Nope. Maybe if given TOIL or overtime but never if unpaid!

ButterCrackers · 04/06/2024 20:30

Just say that you have obligations on your days off and can’t attend outside of your working time unfortunately.

OhshutupBarbara · 04/06/2024 20:21

We did one of these bullshit days (NHS) but luckily it was in works time. The problem however was our team leader was massively incompetent and no amount of team building was going to make them a better manager. Luckily they have just resigned after being off sick 80% of the last year. No way in Gods green earth would I go on my day off.

Bearbookagainandagain · 04/06/2024 20:12

There is 0 chance I ever attend a team building on a weekend day...

GnomeDePlume · 04/06/2024 20:10

I would not go. No excuses/reasons as these can be argued with, just 'no'.

WeAllHaveWings · 04/06/2024 19:41

It is either a paid for social where you can accept/decline.

Or it is a teambuilding event and you either get paid for the Sunday or TOIL. They should provide the catering too! You should also be able to decline if not in contract.

YBIBU (your boss is being unreasonable)

BeeCucumber · 04/06/2024 19:41

Hahahaha. No.

CandleWanker · 04/06/2024 19:37

littlebluecaravan · 04/06/2024 11:41

I hate shit like this.

Many people work to live, not live to work, and once they are out of their contracted hours just went to be free to do what they want with the little time they have leftover.

I'd be happy to attend actual training for my job as long as it was paid off time owed, but not team building. No way.

Absolutely this!!

My work place is fairly toxic at times, and I’m bloody sure none of us would spend 1 unpaid second in each others company… let alone “team building”

I cannot bear stuff like this, and from what I know, it can create even further issues amongst staff, scores are settled, etc.

Big fat NO, with associated cynical laughter!

Womp · 04/06/2024 18:31

Fuck that.

LlynTegid · 04/06/2024 18:26

Support your boss in any way possible in managing the bad people out of the business. Not by attending a team building exercise.

Newestname002 · 04/06/2024 18:22

JuliesName · 04/06/2024 11:34

Hahahahaha absolutely not. Team-building exercises like this are always bullshit anyway. On a Sunday? Absolutely never.

Absolutely this. Your boss is taking the mickey! 🌹

SamW98 · 04/06/2024 18:21

There’s a two word answer for this. Well know phrase starts and ends in F

Witchbitch20 · 04/06/2024 18:09

Absolutely no chance.

LongSinceGotUpAndGone · 04/06/2024 18:09

I'd love this and be there like a shot ... said nobody in the known universe.

longdistanceclaraclara · 04/06/2024 18:04

Not a fucking chance!

Undethetree · 04/06/2024 17:42

Nah.

StripedPiggy · 04/06/2024 17:39

No chance. If my employer wants me to attend a team building activity, they can organise it during work time. My weekends are my own time, not theirs.

HelenaWaiting · 04/06/2024 17:36

I do wish bosses would butt out of staff's personal time.

On a Sunday? No, sorry, for religious reasons (I'm not religious) I will have to regretfully decline.

OurChristmasMiracle · 04/06/2024 17:34

Nope I wouldn’t go. I would respond with “unfortunately I will be unable to attend as the event is outside of my working days” no further explanation necessary.

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