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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Work forcing walks

872 replies

CaramelCandle · 24/02/2021 13:08

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.

OP posts:
SakuraEdenSwan1 · 24/02/2021 17:42

@GettingAwayWithIt

I honestly couldn’t get worked up about being encouraged to cover 1000 steps in my lunchbreak. Are people really so lazy that they won’t walk for 10 minutes? After presumably sitting all morning and prior to sitting all afternoon? Not leaving the house for anything? How very dare your workplace try and encourage a small amount of gentle exercise and fresh air. Contact the union!
Yes how dare they force you to do something that you are not paid for in your lunch hour !!
BirdHedge · 24/02/2021 17:43

That’s awful I’d hate it.
I’d be telling them you need an extra 30mins paid break a day as it’s counted as work as you need your unpaid lunch hour to sort your kids homeschooling!
Arseholes

ilovesooty · 24/02/2021 17:43

@santabetterwashhishands

Put a Fitbit on the dogs collar and let it play in the garden 😂 winner winner
I wouldn't be endorsing it by doing stuff like that. It's wrong.
Ninkanink · 24/02/2021 17:44

@AccidentallyOnPurpose

Why are people so lax with and dismissive of their rights and free time?
A frightening number of people can’t comprehend anything much when it comes to abstract things, nor fill in the perfectly obvious connections between a, b and c; therefore they are unable to grasp why an overarching principle might be hugely important.

I swear they would all march straight into the fires of hell if someone was saying all the right things whilst chivvying them along...

peak2021 · 24/02/2021 17:49

One way to help get people away from their desk would be to have a designated time with no meetings, say 12-1 each working day. With no exceptions because someone cannot plan properly or any other 'urgent' reason. Assuming you are not working in a medical or caring setting or providing a utility such as energy.

LApprentiSorcier · 24/02/2021 17:51

... anyone else on the thread almost want this to happen to them so they can have the pleasure of telling the instigator to fuck off? Wink

ememem84 · 24/02/2021 18:04

I’ll be putting in a claim for discrimination then for the year I couldn’t take part because I was heavily pregnant and it wouldn’t have been safe for me to do so. Surely in that year work should have considered my feelings and either not done it or not given everyone else who did compete a day in lieu.

Similarly I’ll be giving back my additional bonus for completing a qualification because it excludes people who have caring responsibilities from taking the time to study (never mind the fact that I have 2 dc under 4 work full time and had to do this all late nights etc). But the opportunities were there for everyone. I just chose to do it.

They probably also shouldn’t have given us a voucher for local pubs for Christmas. Because some people may not be able to walk there. (Like dh and I will be doing tomorrow during our lunch break for a pub lunch). So disablist.

Anything can be deemed disablist if you decide it is.

I’ve worked with someone who got sacked because she said something to a colleague which someone else took offence at and deemed racist (it wasn’t colleague was discussing curry recipes with a Sri Lankan colleague and other colleague believer because they were talking curry it was racist when in reality they both loved food and the Sri Lankan colleague regularly made food for us and shared recipes). Non Sri Lankan colleague was dismissed.

Hopeisnotastrategy · 24/02/2021 18:04

If this were a fun suggestion that people could do if they wanted, with no employment related prize ( half a days leave) then it would be fine.

As it is, it is a massive overreach of the employer's right to direct the activities of their employees on MANY different levels, each of them very wrong.

Is this a large organisation with just one rogue manager? If so I'd raise it with HR and watch them backpedal so fast you won't see them for dust.

mathanxiety · 24/02/2021 18:05

A frightening number of people can’t comprehend anything much when it comes to abstract things, nor fill in the perfectly obvious connections between a, b and c; therefore they are unable to grasp why an overarching principle might be hugely important.

Amen to that, @Ninkanink

ememem84 · 24/02/2021 18:05

@peak2021

One way to help get people away from their desk would be to have a designated time with no meetings, say 12-1 each working day. With no exceptions because someone cannot plan properly or any other 'urgent' reason. Assuming you are not working in a medical or caring setting or providing a utility such as energy.
We do this at work. 123 -2. No meetings unless emergency ones (which are rare as hens teeth). Employer expects us to take a break.
mathanxiety · 24/02/2021 18:08

Anything can be deemed disablist if you decide it is.

Nope, that is not so, but all of the activities, and the opportunity to get a bonus via a qualification that was open 'for all' are and were disablist, and sexist.

JustLyra · 24/02/2021 18:14

Anything can be deemed disablist if you decide it is.

No, it can’t. You clearly are though.

ememem84 · 24/02/2021 18:17

@mathanxiety

Anything can be deemed disablist if you decide it is.

Nope, that is not so, but all of the activities, and the opportunity to get a bonus via a qualification that was open 'for all' are and were disablist, and sexist.

The qualification was open to everyone. I chose to do it. Others didn’t. So my office firstly paying for it, then congratulating me and giving me a reward are being sexist and disablist?

Despite the fact I worked hard and took time away from my family and worked late nights etc. But yeah. Disablist and sexist.

JustLyra · 24/02/2021 18:18

I’ll be putting in a claim for discrimination then for the year I couldn’t take part because I was heavily pregnant and it wouldn’t have been safe for me to do so. Surely in that year work should have considered my feelings and either not done it or not given everyone else who did compete a day in lieu.

You should. Anyone who could not take part should not have been excluded from being given an extra day of leave.

At least you only missed out once, and for a choice you made. What about colleagues who never have the opportunity to choose to compete through no fault of their own?

Would you be happy if your bosses offered an extra day of leave to the person with the longest penis? Or to people with blue eyes? Or only to people who are child-free by choice?
You don’t mind the discriminatory opportunities offered by your work place because you don’t miss out personally. That doesn’t make it ok that they offer unattainable rewards that other people miss out on.

ememem84 · 24/02/2021 18:26

@JustLyra

Anything can be deemed disablist if you decide it is.

No, it can’t. You clearly are though.

Disagree.

The fact I am lucky to have a supportive dh. Who will look after the kids to facilitate me studying makes me lucky. The fact that I took an opportunity which was open to everyone (all 26 employees) does not make me disablist. The fact I was rewarded for my
Hard work shouldn’t be an issue.

Are annual bonuses disablist? Sexist?

I work 4 days a week so have my performance bonus reduced to reflect this. Sexist I assume because I spend the 5th day with my kids (through choice - they are at nursery because I chose to go back to work - I am lucky I have this choice I realise this).

But it’s choice.

If an opportunity is open to everyone it’s open to everyone regardless of sex, ability, gender, race, religion etc. If people chose not to take advantage of it then that doesn’t automatically make things disablist, sexist etc.

pumpkintree · 24/02/2021 18:27

@CaramelCandle

Lunches are unpaid. People with kids have been told to take the kids with them and we've been told to go in all weathers. I think it's fine for those who want to do it and understand it could be fun for some but those who don't want to are being made to feel bad about it which kind of goes against the whole promoting mental health thing. I've got kids I'm homeschooling and have health issues as well as other responsibilities. I'm more than happy not going out at all some days. It feels like another plate to spin really and not one I want to take on.
Simply and calmly write an email. State due to home school and home commitments this is not possible during your lunch.

If they want you to do it they can give you time from the working day hours not your unpaid lunch.

SimonJT · 24/02/2021 18:30

@IrenetheQuaint

This is ridiculous - also obviously a massive problem for any members of your team with disabilities that affect mobility.
My first thought as well, it actively discriminates against those with disabilities.
Lemonsyellow · 24/02/2021 18:31

If an opportunity is open to everyone it’s open to everyone regardless of sex, ability, gender, race, religion etc. If people chose not to take advantage of it then that doesn’t automatically make things disablist, sexist etc.

But the opportunity isn’t available to everyone, is it? That’s like saying a building with a steep set of stairs is available to a wheelchair user. It’s not a real opportunity.

JustLyra · 24/02/2021 18:31

If an opportunity is open to everyone it’s open to everyone regardless of sex, ability, gender, race, religion etc. If people chose not to take advantage of it then that doesn’t automatically make things disablist, sexist etc.

@ememem84 Your example of being given an extra day of leave for a physical activity that, by its nature, was not open to everyone showed your employer is disablist.

The fact you can’t see anything wrong with it shows that you are.

SpudsandGravy · 24/02/2021 18:38

@CaramelCandle

They want screenshots from our phones to 'prove' it.

ShockShockShock Tell them to bleep right off!

ememem84 · 24/02/2021 18:50

My office is in a building which is listed. There is no lift because it is not allowed by law because listed building. We are on not on the ground floor.

I’m not sure what would happen if work were to employ someone who physically couldn’t get into the office. Assume this would be dealt with but no idea how without moving offices.

If we have clients who cannot get to our office we make adjustments. But for a permenant employee. I guess they’d have to move wouldn’t they?

LunaHeather · 24/02/2021 18:53

Enemen "If an opportunity is open to everyone it’s open to everyone"

There is no opportunity under discussion here. OP says they have been told to do it.

JLQ1020 · 24/02/2021 18:56

Hi we are currently doing something similar in work, but it's more about the distance rather than steps. So walking, runnings, dancing, even going to the shop. Its to encourage mental health awareness and encouraging ppl to get move and get away from work. We have had 2 ppl say the didn't want to take part. That is totally fine. If you don't want to take part just message the organiser to say you don't want to get involved and thanks for thinking of you. Simple

SimonJT · 24/02/2021 18:57

@ememem84 Excluding someone with a disability is no different to a work place giving all men an extra day off.

Lemonsyellow · 24/02/2021 18:59

@JLQ1020

Hi we are currently doing something similar in work, but it's more about the distance rather than steps. So walking, runnings, dancing, even going to the shop. Its to encourage mental health awareness and encouraging ppl to get move and get away from work. We have had 2 ppl say the didn't want to take part. That is totally fine. If you don't want to take part just message the organiser to say you don't want to get involved and thanks for thinking of you. Simple
It’s not simple. And she should not be thanking the organiser!