To not want to go on company away day to build rafts

[Mascarponeandwine]

Just that really. It’s held off site, in the grounds of a Manor House. You are divided into groups of 7 or so, and given tasks to complete, such as survival skills, go carting, gladiator type duals or building a raft sort of thing. Does anyone actually enjoy these things, or are most of my colleagues secretly disliking it too. AIBU to bow out by booking leave? Or am I not being a team player?

Our company used to make us do away weekends! I hated having to use my free time being forced to spend it with people I didn't really want to. I also find building rafts etc boring as hell. I don't need to be able to build a raft to be a team player.

To be clear I was one of the computer programmers keen to solve the puzzle rather than sit under a tree drinking. Not that there is anything wrong with sitting under a tree drinking but something competitive takes over when puzzles are involved

I think they are awful and a waste of money. Surely with the greater awareness of hidden disabilities, a reason not to have them?

They are awful, book the leave op!
My manager is desperate to book one of these days, won't say when and won't authorise leave when there is a date 😡 so far the shortlist is:

Rafting (in a filthy, polluted river)
Paintball
Making potions out of things in the forest/Survival skills
Go ape/rope assault course
Crate stacking (yes, that's stacking milk crates abs someone climbs them)

I'm pregnant and she doesn't know yet, but it'll be very satisfying to say I'll not be attending!

Never been on one but think it sounds like a bit of a laugh. It's something out of the ordinary surely.

I use my hidden disability to get out of this kind of bullshit.

Im sure some people enjoy them.

I do like doing this sort of thing and would prefer to do it with friends but would give it a go with work colleagues

My worst nightmare! Don’t go OP.

I think the pregnant employees have to go on ours (still compulsory unless take annual leave) They get jobs like referee or timing people with a stopwatch.

I would be very vocal about my enthusiasm for the away day, and then be very very ill the day before.

I'm clearly in the minority as I love these sorts of things and team lunches. I'd be researching raft building techniques in advance.

Bah. Always hated this sort of stuff with a vengeance. Now I'm senior management I make sure no one ever has to do this bollocks!

When I used to work for a law firm they tried this shit.

I simply declined to attend.

Went in to work. Did normal work.

Hate those ones, I’m fat, in my 50’s and am useless at anything involving rafts, paintballing etc. I bet it was organised by a bloke.
However, the Escape Room followed by cocktail making we went to a few months ago was brilliant.

I love this kind of thing and still fondly remember the last one I did 7 years ago. I think as long as you go into it with a positive outlook they can be a huge amount of fun and source of good chat for years to go. I usually find the more senior ones dont like doing it as much as less senior but it’s All about bringing everyone together with a shared experience. The last one we did was climbing, orienteering, raft building; then we all went to a spa afterwards (we looked rather amusing trudging into this immaculate hotel with no shoes as they were muddy and wet) and had dinner and use of spa facilities. It was a really good day

We have this bullshit as well, they make it child friendly so childcare can’t be an excuse and partners are invited.

Luckily my sons behaviour in new situations is really really awful, so when the all staff email goes out I get a separate one explaining thay I don’t need to attend. Winner.

All the companies I have worked for have done something like this at some point. They always try to keep the 'fun' activity secret meaning nobody knows whether to bring spare clothes/sun cream etc. In the end the competition is won by whoever has done the particular activity before.

The only practical use of the skills learned will be if somebody decides to relocate the office to an uninhabited island or halfway down a cliff.

Other than that they are a waste of time, temper, goodwill. I am fat, unfit and in my 50s. For the next ghastly event I will offer myself up as meat for the barbecue.

I went on a few of these.

Paintballing was good. Made sure me and my mate were on opposite teams, discreetly shot each other on the feet so it didn't hurt behind a bush, then spent 2 hours sat smoking and listening to the soundtrack to Apocalypse Now and smoking in the shot area. Then in the second game we did the same only had about 6 of us to shoot as a few people had cottoned on to what we had done.

I recently had to do a bullshit corporate retreat that was the absolute pits! So for that reason I would book the sodding leave if you can do it, or have a tremendous stomach bug if it’s a compulsory thing!

As an aside, it pisses me off that they are often the most ableist pile of wank ever to be thought of - our most recent one was put together without thought for those with food intolerances or allergies, pregnancy or physical disabilities unless you count one lady who is an international wheelchair tennis player and is therefore physically fitter than the vast majority of our staff.

I was made to feel like an absolute piece of shit for not being able to get involved in raft building etc when I use a stick, and I’m waiting for major spinal surgery

This takes me back to my company in the 80s. I didn't even own a pair of trainers or "sportswear" to participate.
I refused to go and said I'd rather resign.

I love all this sort of stuff clearly I'm the very irritating minority.

I think those sorts of things would be a laugh if I had a good team who I liked and would equally see the fun / ridiculous side of it.

As a get to know each other, make friends, faux team ethos event, I can't think of anything more nauseating.

Being in a spa with colleagues is much more aversive than doing some kind of tough mudder with them.

Used to do this once a year when I worked with a group of people in IT. It was fun really, no pressure if someone really didn't want to do an activity, they could watch, but people mostly joined in. We didn't get any heavy "team building" input, just did some activities together that made us think and laugh. We ate together, had periods where we were free to do whatever we wanted, it was very nice. I think it did help us as a team, we got to know each other away from pressure of work.