To not take part in work team building games?

[beeyourself]

Next week I have a couple of days away with work. One of which will be a team building day, with physical games like "it's a knock out" etc.

I have long term issues with my health, including problems with my hips/knees and back that mean that I struggle to walk/stand for long periods. I'm trying to build up my muscles/core to help this, but activities like those that have been suggested could put me back in a lot of pain/hospital.

I am being unreasonable to say that while I'm happy to get involved where I can, there are some activities where I'll need to sit out?

A couple of managers have been a bit negative towards me in the past (I'm not even sure why) so I'm wondering if this might make it worse.

I think you are simply being sensible. Your manager must be aware, surely, of your health issues. Why not have a quiet word with them and say just that - that you will be happy to be involved as much as your current health allows but for some activities, could you offer to be referee or scorekeeper or whatever.

I always hated those team building exercises. I saw them as a purely male preoccupation and could never see the point of them, particularly as my inbox (and those of my colleagues) just filled up to the point of overflowing in our absence while we had to play at being ninjas for a day.

Thank you! My manager is aware, but it a few managers at a more senior level who are bit negative towards me already that I'm concerned about.

Ultimately I'm going to put my health over team games, but I'm feeling that this will be another stick to beat me with about "not fitting in"

Fuck no, i wouldn't go (I have back issues) nor would I expect any of my staff to go! Team building days away are a nonsense - my team bond in the workplace, and I facilitate this by leaving them the fuck alone at weekends, when on annual leave, and by encouraging them to leave at 5pm sharp every night!
If you do end up in groups with flip chart paper, merely write this:

I don't do teambuilding days - I am part of a team, I work well as part of a team, I have no ego, I get on well with my team, they get on well with me (and each other - we have a great boss whose chief skill is in picking the right people to work on her team).

I also have health "issues", so don't do outside of actual work activities. It is fine, I have never felt left out or left behind - I work in a lovely team. In your position, to be honest, I would not even be attending. I'd "keep the home fires burning".

Ask them about risk assessment and insurance. Who will be held responsible should you be injured. Speak to your union. I always refused to do stupid team games on the grounds that should an accident happen who was responsible.

I specifically took a pool lifeguard qualification in order to avoid "team building" shit. When you're thrown together with 4 strangers and a person strapped to a board you have to move safely as a team and get them out of the water, anything else is a bit flat. As I explained when it was suggested we "team build". To scowls

😂Crapplepie, I recognise a fellow veteran of Bullsh-t Bingo!

House!

What you're saying is totally reasonable. Did they know about your physical challenges earlier? To me it's not very team building to choose activities that the whole team cannot join!

That said, the rest of the posters on here sound a bit grim, few of us adore team games, but they're usually well intended and can be fun (or at least more fun than a day at the office) if they're properly chosen and people actually come with an ok attitude.

Late team dinners, on the other hand, really annoy me - at least bullsh#t bingo is equal opportunity and doesn't exclude anyone who has caring responsibilities / doesn't drink etc.

I'd have thought they should be discouraging you to do this - when I've had to do these sorts of awful activities, I've had to complete a risk assessment and notify them of any injuries or health conditions that could be exacerbated

I would call in sick

Thank you! It's a good point about risk assessments/insurance. I'll remember that if I need it.

It would be awkward to miss it. It's 2 nights away with (in my experience) excessive drinking (I don't drink more than a couple of glasses these days) & team building. Im making the effort to go, as the whole company will be there, despite it making things tricky at home. So I will be really peeved if I'm given a hard time about sitting out the games.

I once did a team building game using this type of apparatus. We had to pass people through the gaps without touching the ropes.

Note the children in this photo. We were not children sized.

I still have nightmares thinking about it.

A few years ago, I was at one of these jollies - with an overnight stay, dinner drinks and quiz event.

Someone (male) managed to get sacked for gross misconduct after an drunken incident with a female colleague.

I hate the cutesy way companies (increasingly) try and crowbar themselves into employees personal life. Frankly they just don't pay enough to justify it.