Having to pay for work team building day

[Notanawayday]

Name changed for this.

I work part time for the NHS band 3 with colleagues who are band 6/7 so obviously better paid.

Every year we have no choice but to go on an afternoons team building day. Patient diaries are blocked out so my colleagues can go and admin have to attend too.

Last year it was bowling, year before pottery painting so not too expensive.

We have raised before about the trust we work for paying for us to go as it is on work time and we have no choice but to attend. Last year a couple of colleagues couldn’t afford the bowling had to sit there and watch.

There is no way our trust will pay for this forced team building day so there is no point even raising it again.

I was on annual leave last week when it was decided by our clinicians team lead that we will all be getting the train then a tube to Canary Wharf where we will be going to some sort of quiz event involving completing puzzles. Entry fee is £25 and then have to pay for food and drinks and of course train and fare tube which we can’t claim back. Whole cost will be around£60 and we will be there longer than our work finish time.

Im so fed up. I don’t want to spend money to attend a work team building day. A lot of the clinicians I work with are looking forward to it because it means half a day of not having to see patients and of course they earn way more than us lowly admin.

I think I will have to say I can’t afford to attend and will stay at work and actually do my job. I know already how it will pan out, constantly being pressurised to attend, being told I will have a good time and how I have to go to be part of the team etc etc

I’ve worked in further education and the civil service and never had to pay to attend a work team building day and yet the NHS managers think this is ok?!!!

I work in the NHS and I tbink this is appalling. They should not be able to force you to attend a day where you have to pay to participate.
I would raise this through thr FTSU route if you dont feel comfortable raising with management. This is not inclusive at all and I am shocked !

What is FTSU please why

I don’t work for the NHS, but it’s APPALLING you have to pay for this yourself.

I can’t even imagine how the people felt who had to sit and watch everyone else play bowling.

People speak to your manager or HR about this.

Freedom to speak up - you should be able to look up on the Trusts intranet page who they are - there’s usually a spread amongst clinicians and non clinicians but you can email whoever you feel most comfortable with.

I also work for the NHS and have never had this and I’m really shocked that they’ll cancel that much clinical activity for an away day. What happens for clinicians who don’t work that day? I’d do as you have suggested - say you’re happy to attend work and ‘man the fort’. It’s sounds a nightmare anyway. You could also raise this with HR

sunshine no point talking to my manager she is all for it and will be attending. Myself and a few other admin colleagues have raised in the past how it is shocking that we are expected to pay but our managers keep arranging these events.

Senior managers know as clinician diaries are blocked out as “mandatory training” so we can do all this bowling and pottery painting rubbish!

This sounds quite wrong, the costs should be covered by the NHS trust or any charitable funds if considered appropriate

This is outrageous. I would just point blank refuse to go.
They can’t FORCE you and if they try, involve your union.

Freedom to Speak Up. All NHS trusts will have this, just look on your local intranet. It is a way for colleagues to raise concerns anonymously. So you can raise this via that route without fear of reprisal

I think it’s bonkers they’re organising basically a half day jolly and trying to force everyone to pay for it.

I’m a civil servant and we have a team “away day” once a year; it’s not even away. We book a big meeting room and we use the day to discuss ways of working/potential improvements with an extended lunch somewhere affordable like Wagamamas for team building.

What would happen if you said you’re not prepared to pay for the activity or a trip to Canary Wharf?

It's a disgrace and I bet not in your contract. Contact your union. Bad enough having to take part in this pointless stuff without having to pay for the priviledge

I don't think the tax payers should pay for your team away day but equally I don't ever think you should have to play for your own if it's mandated that you have to be there. Not sure what the solution is other than to have it in the workplace.

Just continue to repeat “I can’t afford this”. No further explanation. If they try and convince you say “yes it sounds great but I cant afford it”

Well the past two years colleagues who couldn’t pay just sat and watched everyone else bowl and paint but as the venues were local we all car shared so no travel expenses.

This year we’d have to pay for a train and tube fair and we’d have to pay for venue entry so going along and watching is not an option.

I don’t know if it’s just the team I work in but we are always being forced to do stuff like this. In July we all had a day at a different clinic (clinician diaries blocked out for the day) while we attended a meeting in the morning then did a PE sports type day in the afternoon which involved throwing wellies and running. It was HORRIFIC but the clinicians loved it as apparently they are “very competitive”

Yes it’s ridiculous. FTSU or your union rep. Or both. They need to raise this with HR. It’s utterly unacceptable.

And our awaydays are also spent on work premises talking about work and trying to do things we don’t normally have time for, plan for the future or float new ideas. Who on earth goes bowling or pottery painting in working hours?

That’s appalling

speak to HR or your union or call ACAD for advice

I work for the NHS, this wouldn't happen where I work. I or someone else would have raised this as an issue in a team meeting or with a manager. You need to do this and say you won't be going as you can't afford it, don't back down, they can't force you to go.

That’s awful! We had an away day but our lovely clinical lead paid for it herself from some private work pay!
ar Christmas my brothers NHS, team,they all take everyone out and all of the consultants split the cost between them so everyone else has a free Christmas night out

I agree with everyone it’s ridiculous and of course tax payers shouldn’t pay.

I am going to say I can’t afford to attend and will work instead.

I absolutely dread this part of my job and I’ve spent all weekend fretting about it. Thankyou to posters who have made me realised this is madness and not at all normal work practice!

Im admin so not part of a union.

It should be optional

It's worrying you are not aware of FTSU or who your local champions are, this should be displayed clearly in your workspace.

I think it is appalling that you are 'forced' to participate and even worse that you have to pay. Definitely escalate through your union or FTSU.

Either they cover the costs or it should be optional

If you feel comfortable naming which NHS trust it is, I am sure a number of MN posters would be happy to complain about this treatment. Or who your local MP is (assuming you have one who attends Parliament and deals with correspondence).

You should be at work not this nonsense.

Agree this is unacceptable. And just really off - I've worked in both NHS and Civil Service most of my career, and whenever it's been an unfunded thing e.g. Christmas meal, contributions have been structured so more senior staff pay more, and/or cover the drinks bill. Really rude and inconsiderate not to.

If anyone tries to pressure you, I would smile and say you would be happy to go if he/she is offering to cover your costs.

Compulsory team building events should be inclusive and if the employer won't cover costs, they need to be free, ie internally run, not with a commercial provider.

Sounds like the FTSU route is a good way to raise this if you don't feel comfortable doing it publicly.

But being admin doesn't stop you being in a union, you can join Unison, PCS etc. Shouldn't cost too much as a PT band 3 as subs are salary dependant.