Dreading team build day but don’t think I can not attend

Just speak to your boss / the organiser and make up an excuse to avoid the swimwear bit. Say you get migraines or have problems with your sinuses. No way would i be going in front of my colleagues in a swimsuit!

There’s a lot of flu about if you have even the slightest symptoms don’t risk passing it on will you.

Yes I’d say no for health reasons; you don’t have to disclose them. Is there a nice lounge area you could relax with a coffee instead?

"Hi boss - letting you know I won't be able to take part in the sauna/ice bath for health reasons"

Really?!

Long ago when I was younger I would have agonised like you. These days I'd say 'No, that's not for me. I'll bring my book to read whilst the rest of you splash around'. End of.

I would think you would have to sign a disclaimer to be medically fit for anything like this.So it would be very unfortunate if you had one of the conditions which prevented you from being able to do it. Or I would start coming down with the flu….

Really not my thing, so I'm sitting this one out. See you in a bit.

You're under no obligation whatsoever to do this. I'm sure you won't be the only one.

Now this would be a nice dilemma to have, paid days not working and just hanging out with colleagues! Sorry, don't mean to be negative, but in my field we barely get chance to talk so I would love being able to spend time with them socially rather than having to get together and pay for our own activities.

As to your issue, is there no one else who may feel the same? We imagine worst case scenario but then it comes to the moment there are others who are bigger but don't gaf!

Personally though, join in the other activities, but sauna time just say you're having a nap, have high BP so can't, simply not going. No one will think more about it, you don't have to give a reason, I'm sitting this one out.

Say you have a uti?

I love my team and swim in a swimming costume in a public pool every week and even I think this is grim ! Just not appropriate unless it's like a team of two and they both want to do it. Not sure how to suggest you escape, but I hope you do!

As others have said I would just say now I am not taking part in the sauna element, and I would not take any swimming gear

it would be my worst nightmare

I think it's perfectly acceptable to just say I'm not going to take part in that thank you. No way would I want to be seen or see colleagues in their swimwear!

I've been on training for work where there have been 'trust exercises' and activities where people were encouraged to share extremely personal experiences (e.g. grief or painful life events) where I've politely declined to participate and it wasn't a problem.

Just say you don't want to have a sauna or an ice bath. Nothing to do with wanting to avoid people seeing me. I just would not do it as I don't like the idea of it.

Yeah, I’d not want to be in swimwear or underwear - there’s not much difference - in front of colleagues. Even if you’re in a robe, you’d need to be in and out of it to use ice baths and saunas. I just googled it and high and low blood pressure are both conditions which mean you should avoid saunas and ice baths, so perhaps take your robe, quietly avoid what you can and then if pushed into things say it’s not something you fancy doing. This alone should suffice but if pushed further, you could mention the blood pressure and say you don’t want to be made to feel unwell to take part.

It’s nuts. I can’t believe anyone would have thought that this was a good way to build teams. Let’s all take our clothes off now. There must be loads of medical reasons that people can’t go in saunas. Pick one of those. Do the other parts of the team building with gusto.

Jesus, who thought that was appropriate as a company approved activity in work hours?

I like my colleagues a lot. But I have zero desire for any of them to see me in what amounts to the equivalent covering of underwear, and I've no wish to be that closely acquainted with their bodies either. Its asking for trouble.

Just say no - you’re an adult and can decide for yourself .
Its definitely not in your contract that you must sauna with colleagues.

There is no way on earth I would do this. Shame whoever organised this nonsense and say you are uncomfortable being asked to be around your colleagues with hardly any clothes on. Personally I would be more blunt and say there is not a chance colleagues are seeing me in swimwear.

Just be sick that day

Im HR and if one of the team managers suggested this as a team building exercise I would be having a very serious word and telling him it would be vetoed.

It’s absolutely inappropriate as feck.

I just wouldn't go. Sorry I just refuse to do sauna, even if I am on my own I never do it. Ice bath ? Ha. No thank you. See you at the Xmas social tho

“I’m happy to attend, but I’m not comfortable participating in the activities themselves. Could I take on a supporting role instead?“

You would not catch me in swimwear with colleagues!

My HR department would lose the plot of someone organised this in our workplace.

There is nothing in the world that could make me do a shared shauna with colleagues and I'm fairly hsppy with my figure. Horrible idea.

Sorry guys, I'm going to sit this one out. Never enjoyed suanas or ice baths
Give me a text when you're done and I'll catch up for the next event.

Or if you want to shut them up...can't join you, I've a veruca!