Work forcing walks

[CaramelCandle]

My whole team is wfh. The manager has decided that everyone needs to walk 1000 steps a day on their lunch hour for the next month. We've been put into teams and have to record the steps and the team with the most will win a half day off. There were a few people not keen to take part but everyone has been put into a team anyway. AIBU to think this is stupid? I understand the idea is to get people away from their desk etc but it's the way it's been done so that you're letting your team down if you don't take part that I think is unfair. Surely it would be better to give people a choice without the guilt.

1 If you don’t invest time in your team, this is from both sides, you won’t get far in that organisation.
2 We do understand that asking people to complete physical activities in an inequitable setting is discriminatory.

Your first sentence shows that you do not understand what your second sentence means.

I notice you use the word 'we'.
Are you a manager?

@actanonverba22

You could be an amazing, knowledgeable person at work. If you don’t invest time in your team, this is from both sides, you won’t get far in that organisation. We do understand that asking people to complete physical activities in an inequitable setting is discriminatory.

Invest in your team or you won’t get far in the organisation? What an appalling attitude.

It's a 5 minute walk? I technically get an hour for lunch but no ones sat timing me as I'm working from home. Take your hour lunch and then spend 5 mins walking round the block? Get up and get a tea a few times throughout the day and record the steps? Start 5 mins later in the morning and walk to work for a commute?

I think it's a good idea. Anyone not doing 1,000 steps minimum outside per day, really isn't helping their physical or mental health.

It’s only 1,000 steps - not worth arguing about. It’s 10-15 minutes.

[quote Juno231]@lovemelongtime you read one zero too many!

Loving this thread lol, so many people up in arms over a measly 1000 steps.[/quote]
Ignorant ablest post again. Hope you don’t work in HR.

@DianaT1969

I think it's a good idea. Anyone not doing 1,000 steps minimum outside per day, really isn't helping their physical or mental health.

Are you thick? Can you actually not read the thread?

[quote actanonverba22]@JustLyra “Did you miss the bit about people being put into teams against their will?”

My goodness....being put in teams against your will at work. What will it come to?[/quote]
@ yes being put into a walking team against their will on an unpaid lunchtime. Totally in accordance with disability discrimination and making reasonable adjustments?

@ememem84

Are the employees divided into teams?

Are employees who cannot participate or do their quota every day because of protected characteristics deemed to be 'not team players'?

Such casual ableism from so many.

@actanonverba22

You could be an amazing, knowledgeable person at work. If you don’t invest time in your team, this is from both sides, you won’t get far in that organisation. We do understand that asking people to complete physical activities in an inequitable setting is discriminatory.

So if someone was amazing at their job, communicated well with clients, was polite to other members of staff and worked well with them on professional matters BUT wasn't interested in being friendly beyond work, joining in team building, doing social stuff or anything outside contracted hours - then they wouldn't progress?

I've come up against that attitude before. All I did was leave and get another job and it was their loss, to be frank.

Im so glad I'm self employed . I can't abide nonsense like this .

just don't participate if you don't want to. I think it is a great idea though - only a bit of fun. Crikey some get worked up about it and that it your personal time and not been paid - isn't it great that they want to encourage people to get outside. plenty not going outside the door from 1 end of the week to the next. Lighten up people.

@DianaT1969

I think it's a good idea. Anyone not doing 1,000 steps minimum outside per day, really isn't helping their physical or mental health.

A very ableist comment

Just because you personally are not disabled ....

I think the idea is amazing but the execution is a load of crap. Tbh I take a nap on my lunch break, I heard it burns calories, does it count?

On the other hand side I do 3x HORRIBLE trainings/week, i'd be pretty pissed if someone asked to do random steps on my lunch break😫

@IndiaMay

It's a 5 minute walk? I technically get an hour for lunch but no ones sat timing me as I'm working from home. Take your hour lunch and then spend 5 mins walking round the block? Get up and get a tea a few times throughout the day and record the steps? Start 5 mins later in the morning and walk to work for a commute?

Why on earth should she?

@Yerra
How is it fun for the many people who cannot do it?

@mathanxiety glad to know I don’t understand what I’ve written. Of course everyone is entitled to check in and out each day and not engage. Engagement, continual development for yourself and the team is essential to succeed. Are you trying to say you can have something akin to an ‘I’m alright Jack’ mentality and be promoted?

If my team tried this they'd have a whale of a time with my steps, I'm awaiting a very delayed hip replacement. Honestly just let them crack on, if they get on your back you don't even need to defend your reasoning just say I'm sorry that is not possible, good luck to the rest of the team though.

@Yerra

They are not 'encouraging people to get outside'.

They are putting people on teams and offering the possibility of half a day off to the team with the lowest number of people who are disabled, experiencing problem pregnancies, or with caring responsibilities in the home on top of wfh.

A simple memo with a friendly reminder that they care about the health and wellbeing of all employees, and encouragement to get exercise if they can would be 'encouragement'.

PS. If you have a fitbit you can "fake" the steps by entering exercise manually, so I'm not sure how reliable a system these screenshots are..

@Yerra

just don't participate if you don't want to. I think it is a great idea though - only a bit of fun. Crikey some get worked up about it and that it your personal time and not been paid - isn't it great that they want to encourage people to get outside. plenty not going outside the door from 1 end of the week to the next. Lighten up people.

No, it's not great - it's discriminatory and it's illegal.

If you were unable to do X, and were told by your boss "Do X and get free annual leave. Can't do X? Oh well, we won't offer you an alternative, so you don't get free annual leave".

I bet you wouldn't think it was a "great idea".

[quote actanonverba22]@mathanxiety glad to know I don’t understand what I’ve written. Of course everyone is entitled to check in and out each day and not engage. Engagement, continual development for yourself and the team is essential to succeed. Are you trying to say you can have something akin to an ‘I’m alright Jack’ mentality and be promoted?[/quote]
Well I don't expect to be discriminated against for my disability if that is what you mean

Apart from being unreasonable to someone with a disability, or even a short-term injury (pulled hamstring for example), it smacks of one of those workplace 'enforced fun' initiatives. Better to deal with the irritations such as poor response to things you need from your manager (or colleagues), the person who is always late for meetings, the one who cannot stick to an agenda, the one who always wants time off that is most inconvenient to colleagues, and many others we could all think of.

I actually think it's a really good idea, encouraging people to move. Perhaps they could encourage you to do it during the working day but as they're giving the winning team time off, I'd make sure I was doing all I could to get my team high numbers. There are some really creative ways above to do those if you're not interested. Of course, those who have mobility or mental health issues that may prevent it need to be excluded but the idea in principle is a sound one.