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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:
Sera1989 · 04/06/2024 17:31

Unless I'm getting overtime pay for the activity and travel time plus travel expenses then no I won't be attending, my cat has a piano recital

Cosmosforbreakfast · 04/06/2024 17:29

You boss should be dealing with whoever is being unpleasant and causing the problem. A nonsensical teambuilding day doesn't address the root of the problem. Just send a polite, professional email. Dear X, I will not be attending teambuilding event on y date. If you're challenged just answer 'I have plans', if it's not contracted you are not obliged to attend.

SamW98 · 04/06/2024 17:29

I hate team building with a passion so there’s more chance of me growing another head than attending this nonsense at weekend.

Im employed 35 hours mon- fri outside that it’s my time

ExpressCheckout · 04/06/2024 17:24

JuliesName · 04/06/2024 11:34

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

^ This, exactly. Who are all these managers who think these are helpful? No wonder we have a productivity problem in the UK. Your managers just need to lead and manage, not organize bullshit activities that carers cannot attend.

MinnieMountain · 04/06/2024 17:19

We have team “socials”. I only go if it’s a lunch on a work day near the office. But it never is now.

Gingertam · 04/06/2024 17:19

Never in a million years. One good thing about getting older is you can just say no to things like this without giving a proverbial. Years ago I would have gone or made up an excuse. Now I would just refuse. What a cheek they've got.

DerekFaker · 04/06/2024 17:16

Gettingbysomehow · 04/06/2024 12:12

I never ever go to team building exercises. It's lazy and ineffective management dealing with bullying issues in this way.

Exactly. The boss needs to be having words with the two unpleasant colleagues, not making everyone else suffer!

Londonrach1 · 04/06/2024 17:15

Are you being paid to attend. If not no way attend. Your boss is a cf on this and needs to learn to manage too.

northernballer · 04/06/2024 17:14

God no.

IAlwaysTellTheTruthEvenWhenILie · 04/06/2024 17:12

My idea of hell

VJBR · 04/06/2024 16:57

Just say sorry can’t make it. You don’t have to give a reason

TheNoonBell · 04/06/2024 16:12

If the boss will pay overtime then go.

Love51 · 04/06/2024 15:39

Are you in America?
They like free labour there!

Zanatdy · 04/06/2024 15:33

I’d probably attend but I wouldn’t organise something on a weekend for my team

SmileyHappyPeopleInTheSun · 04/06/2024 15:29

All day plus 4 hours of travel at weekend for no pay to spend time with work colleagues one of who is difficult - without even catering being put on.

No I wouldn't go.

haddockfortea · 04/06/2024 15:27

No chance. I'd expect time and a half for working a Sunday (including the travelling time), and only then if I actually wanted to go. I'd also expect food & refreshments to be provided for an all-day employee event.

QueenBitch666 · 04/06/2024 15:23

I'd expect double pay plus traveling expenses for attending otherwise no fucking way

gamerchick · 04/06/2024 15:22

Slow death.

Take alcohol imo.

DaisyChain505 · 04/06/2024 15:22

Absolutely not. If my manager wants to encourage me to bond with my team they’ll be booking something during working hours.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 04/06/2024 15:16

Team building events are totally counterproductive if staff are told to do them on a weekend.

I'd consider it for OT and a day off in lieu.

Savemykitchen · 04/06/2024 15:13

Is his goal to have you all bond over your mutual hatred of him?

Absolutely not ok on a weekend.

shearwater2 · 04/06/2024 15:10

Oh what a shame you have decided to sit in the garden and drink wine instead have water coming through your ceiling and will have to wait in for the plumber.

CastleCrasher · 04/06/2024 15:02

I'd have a chat with the boss on this. Are they actually the boss, or are they a team leader - ie, how much say do they have in terms of the business paying for this and/or using work time to do it?

If they have plenty of say in this, then I have little sympathy - this is a cheap and counterproductive way to do the day. If they have little say, I'd be more sympathetic and wonder if they are (naively) doing their best with very little to work with. (Is still a crap idea though!)

They can't expect people to give up their weekend. They can't expect people to give up their time unpaid. There is little to no point in an activity to address issues between staff if at least one of the people at the centre of the problems won't be there. They need to rethink this.

Littlemisscapable · 04/06/2024 14:55

Not in a million years.

twoshedsjackson · 04/06/2024 14:53

Your boss may find that this unites the workforce, but not in the manner intended.
Everybody who actually attends will be united in simmering resentment against the many disadvantages cited by PP's, and instead of getting to grips with the troublemaking colleagues, they have shifted themselves into the position of The Resented One.

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