Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
SchadenfreudePersonified · 25/02/2021 17:53

So what happens if you trip and break an ankle on your daily walk?

Is this a work-related injury? Does it go in the book? Do you get any compensation if it was caused by another co-worker shoving you and saying "Get a move on Candle you lazy*rse! I have plans for that half-day and not you nor Almighty God himself is going to stop me getting it!"? What if you get mugged?

Seriously though - it's your own time - but will work be insuring you for anything that happens during it because they have effectively coerced you into umpteen steps a day?

Smileyk · 25/02/2021 17:54

We got signed up for a 25 mile walk for the charity our company supported that year -so 1000 steps wouldn't phase me in the slightest! Lol A few did choose not to do it but most of us took it as a great challenge (we got the day off to do it).

I'd quite like the incentive to get out at lunchtime to be honest. They're probably thinking of your mental health and the possibility of a free half day off would get me out there every day!

Lemonsyellow · 25/02/2021 17:57

the possibility of a free half day off would get me out there every day!

Doing the activity would take as long, if not longer, than you get back with the “free day off”. You actually don’t get any extra time off at all and may actually lose time.

mapofeasterireland · 25/02/2021 17:58

Its a great idea for those interested.I'd like to have the motivation. You can do 1000 steps pretty quickly! I am sure they'd be fine with you saying you didn't want to.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 25/02/2021 17:58

@ticktox

Ok - would dislike this and disabilities should be accommodated BUT FFS - it’s a positive thing and why do we all have to be such misery guts....
What exactly is positive about this?
Justgivemewine · 25/02/2021 18:00

@Porridgeoat

That’s only half a mile!! Ten minutes of walking, maybe 7 minutes if you’re fast
It doesn’t matter how far it is. It could be one lap round the garden, the point is the op doesn’t want to do it, doesn’t have to and shouldn’t be bullied or guilt tripped into it.
godmum56 · 25/02/2021 18:01

if you have been employed by them for more than two years then they can't make you do it. Personally team or no team I 'd be using two words and the second one would be off.

nagnagnag · 25/02/2021 18:01

I'd tell them that as it is so important it should be done during working hours - your employer can show their commitment to your health by teams having the option of going for half an hour during working hours. They can't dictate your free time. My job does this sort of thing too - a lot of people seem to love it!

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 25/02/2021 18:01

@Smileyk

We got signed up for a 25 mile walk for the charity our company supported that year -so 1000 steps wouldn't phase me in the slightest! Lol A few did choose not to do it but most of us took it as a great challenge (we got the day off to do it).

I'd quite like the incentive to get out at lunchtime to be honest. They're probably thinking of your mental health and the possibility of a free half day off would get me out there every day!

So you got paid to do it? OP isn't. She's supposed to do it in her UNPAID lunch hour when she also presumably has to eat, has children that are being homeschooled and other responsibilities. That's without the fact that she has health issues .
PlsSendWine · 25/02/2021 18:02

@CaramelCandle

They want screenshots from our phones to 'prove' it.
This is shocking as far as I’m concerned, I have health issues which mean when I get a break from working I collapse for my 45 min (unpaid) lunch. If you’re working from home do you have a pet you can strap it to? BearGrin
TheFnozwhowasmirage · 25/02/2021 18:03

This sort of crap is why I'm self employed. If I was asked to do it,I'd refuse as I hate being corralled/ guilted into doing stuff that I don't want to. I particularly dislike team building stuff, and in my 36 years of work life,have only had to do such a thing once.It was miserable.

Lemonsyellow · 25/02/2021 18:04

@godmum56

if you have been employed by them for more than two years then they can't make you do it. Personally team or no team I 'd be using two words and the second one would be off.
They can’t make her do it at all ever, no matter if she’s only been there one day. Because during that hour of time she is not obligated to do anything work related at all.
Jammysod · 25/02/2021 18:04

I get the meaning behind it, but they can't force you. They should have just asked who wanted to take part.

ArtMill2010 · 25/02/2021 18:06

The idea of encouraging people to move and walk is actually very good. But the execution here is appalling, as is the idea of linking your benefits to a colleagues performance, in a non work task at that! Very poor management.

DietrichandDiMaggio · 25/02/2021 18:07

Why in your lunchtime? Surely it should be in their time, not your own.

whataboutbob · 25/02/2021 18:10

I think employers must be worried about an epidemic of musculoskeletal disease in the wake of this pandemic. It’s good to get out and walk.

purplebunny2012 · 25/02/2021 18:12

And I'd be telling them no. It would be discriminatory if they did anything about your refusal

Xenia · 25/02/2021 18:12

Just say you will not be taking part.

TheyIsMyFamily · 25/02/2021 18:14

I'd rather see employers fund local gym/pool/exercise classes or fitness group memberships up to a certain amount ... to be used or lost so it's not wasted money ... if they want to 'help' employees get and stay fitter.

Yellow78 · 25/02/2021 18:16

@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.
It takes me 30 mins to get the kids rounded up for a walk 🤣 that would be my lunch gone!
maidsmum · 25/02/2021 18:17

Absolutely not. If they want to make it mandatory, do it in work time. Whether its a 5 minute walk or an hour. That is your personal time and they can take a jump. I get the mental health aspect, but again, it's your own personal time

Devlesko · 25/02/2021 18:18

I'd take it up with HR and stress that it doesn't make you a bad team player for not giving up your lunchtime.

cherish123 · 25/02/2021 18:18

While it's a good thing to do, it's your choice how you spend lunch hour. I would tell them you can't time commit (unless, of course, you want to). Presumably it's an opt in.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 25/02/2021 18:19

@DietrichandDiMaggio

Why in your lunchtime? Surely it should be in their time, not your own.
Because it's just a gimmick and a tick box exercise.

Makes me laugh when posters proclaim how altruistic the manager is, how positive this is and how much they must care.

Roszie · 25/02/2021 18:20

Have you a dog? Tie the fit bit to it's collar then let it out in the garden