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?

My grad scheme wangled some money to do one of these for a couple days. We vowed to make it accessible so sorted out a crèche, a provider that claimed all our list of declared disabilities would be catered for, and ensured there was an on site bar.

Turned out the venue's idea of accessibility was 'they can watch' for pretty much every activity. And we got through their activities in a third the time they thought, so they tried dumping us all in a forest instead. With a diabetic who had been planning around the published lunchtime. The minibus driver grassed so we pretended we'd beaten him up, hijacked the bus, returned to the centre and forced them to make lunch, and spent the next day and a half drinking their bar dry for free while drafting our legal action. Certainly worked as a bonding activity, if not quite as planned...

I’m another one who loves these things. Nothing like a try-athlon or paintball with booze!

To be honest I don’t see the necessity of bonding with the people you work with!

I did one where we all trooped off to a “participation” restaurant where you basically had to prepare your own meals. Three teams for starter, main course and dessert and each team had to prepare the dish for the group of about 45. I genuinely went out for dinner and had to peel about 5 lbs of Jerusalem artichokes to make soup. I think it is fair to say that the men thought it was wonderful and adventurous fun and the (4) women present rolled their eyes so badly that we all ruptured something.

The only team building we do at work is in the pub. Our manager would rather get drunk with us all than organise one of those

Our company away days involve spending a day in a conference centre enduring tedious lectures on how we can do our jobs more effectively.

Frankly, I'd rather build rafts.

You could suddenly have a family crisis you have to attend to !

I've been on loads of these, lived all of 'em.

Have seen a very different side to some of my colleagues , learned who to trust and who not and made some really good friends.

Learned a lot over the years about how to express my misgivings without seeming to be negative and how to be kind to people when they are down without patronising too much. Some I only managed to finish with a great deal of help and others where I had the privilege of supporting others. Its a lot easier to offer than to accept help and it's never the people you expect who are really struggling.

Just life IRL

Why are the options ridiculous adventure forced fun or drinking though? Anyone unable to do the physical things are excluded and non-drinkers are left out or made to feel awkward.

Obviously it's a sore subject for me right now being forced to agree to some stupid rafting/paint balling bullshit followed by a night out while not wanting to disclose my pregnancy yet. It's shit, I don't want to raft or climb a tree or abseil and I don't want to spend my own time drinking with people I see more than my own family!

I learn who trust and not trust by quiet observation and keeping a mental cross -referencing list.

I also know how to express my misgivings and be kind to people without having to spend the day building rafts or putting on comedy sketches to learn how to do it.

YANBU. These team building days are the biggest load of bs. I bloody hate them and the good thing about no longer managing a large team is that I don't have to participate in them just to tow the party line.

I quite enjoy them. But then I am ex-military, so rafts and shit are right up my street. Within our team, we select a variety of events and then have a vote on which we will do. No one is forced to join in if they don't want to. Last year, we did GoApe followed by an amazing meal and cocktails at a lakeside restaurant.

Much better than the corporate option for the whole organisation a few weeks ago where we had to do a ridiculous scavenger hunt round a hotel, followed by building our feelings out of playdoh

I'd sooner do a scavenger hunt than Go Ape. That's my worst nightmare though the preferred option would be neither.

No. Just no.

I bond better over cake

Wow, what a great way to out people with medical problems and non-visible disabilities

Yep, I have a medical condition that hardly anyone knows about, including my parents and DD, which means I wouldn't be able to do these type of activities (though I am generally quite fit). Fortunately I have my own business so will never make myself go on one of these!

I love these. Except our company won't pay for them. So we do them at the weekend with our own money

I hate all variations of teambuilding activities, however, I just see it as another part of work and get on with it.

I was at one (in 2007) where someone was sacked for gross misconduct after propositioning a female colleague.

To be honest, given the claims culture we are supposed to live in, I am surprised these events manage to get past a risk assessment. Especially if there is alcohol involved (and that's before you start asking quite how inclusive an event with alcohol is .....)

Apparently the first thing the corporate lawyers asked when the incident I refer to was reported was "You did do a risk assessment didn't you ?".

I did one of these a couple of weeks ago. It was awful. I always thought I enjoy something like that but I'm just not fit enough. All the build up activities were weight bearing which can be an embarrassment. The raft building is very prescribed It's not improvised. Certain knots have to be used and the rafts have a pattern to follow. How or why our company forked out 2k (£85 each) for it I don't know.

Previously we've clubbed together and paid £15 each to hire a narrow boat and had an all day prosseco picnic. Much more civilized.

@PineappleSeahorse

I teach outdoor education and part of my job is working with corporate groups. I never forced anyone to do anything, but it is their company who has organised it and they who have turned up so I do my job

That comment was tongue in cheek, I promise.

All ghastly. Marvellous for the jolly hockey sticks types whose greatest days were at school, not so wonderful for many others. Thankfully I work for a small company set up with friends and we bond over setting up a company together, going to the pub and occasional fantastic meals. Other activities like climbing often take place but voluntarily, for people who actually want to. No bullying others into it.

I hate all that faux team building business-bollox. The funniest one I heard was the manager who tried to get her team to pull up the weeds on a golf course for ‘charidee’. About 4 people out of 30 showed up.

The other thing I hate about them is that the work doesn’t go away. While you’re building the Taj Mahal out of spit and twigs the work is just sitting waiting there to be done. It’s not like someone else will do it.

My last boss's idea of team building was to take our team out for lunch to a nice restaurant (not necessarily expensive, but nice atmosphere, good food and service).

We were all good team members and always attended those!