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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:
ChaToilLeam · 25/02/2021 19:24

I’m a keen walker. I love to walk for miles; but because I want to. If someone started telling me how to spend my unpaid Lunch break, I’d have a nice long walk suggested for them too. It would involve a short pier. If the employer was really concerned about employee wellbeing, an extra break could be added for getting some fresh air and movement away from the desk, no pressure and no cutting into personal time.

Lemonsyellow · 25/02/2021 19:24

1,000 steps isn’t that many...it wouldn’t be a bad thing to get out...

Really? Just really?

Brefugee · 25/02/2021 19:26

as PP pointed out, 10 minutes a day, 5 days a week is around the same as the half day off that only some people would get...

Don't go to a union FFS, just say no. If they then (very very very unlikely) start disciplinary procedures for not taking part then you could approach one.

One of the problems i see in all these kinds of posts from the UK is that so many people don't know what unions are for. This is exactly the kind of thing a good union rep would take up and approach management without naming names and asking about risk assessments, encroaching into unpaid private time, and so on. They are not just about standing up and shouting "everybody out!" over something trivial.

ellyeth · 25/02/2021 19:30

Presumably people can do this if they want to. To insist that they do it seems over-the-top to me.

GreenlandTheMovie · 25/02/2021 19:30

@Happymum12345

1000 steps really isn’t a lot. It will do you good too.
Thats the whole problem. Its not enough for some; its too much for others.

If I'm doing a big run, I don't need to tire my legs unnecessarily by walking around at lunchtime. My coach encourages us to keep walking to a minimum. I don't have any need whatsoever to walk 1000 steps to do me good.

BlueSoop · 25/02/2021 19:33

1,000 steps isn’t that many
It could be 10 steps. That’s still too many. The point is that the employer has no right to request any steps at all. It’s discriminatory against those who can’t do even 1 step. And saying disabled people and those who are home schooling etc can opt out is still discrimination because then they don’t have an equal opportunity to win the prize.

Sparticuscaticus · 25/02/2021 19:34

I agree with majority of PPs on here who have replied that your manager is being unreasonable and hasn't checked it with HR

The thing is , managers change and people may have had have knee operations, hip operations , spine ops, or walking problems that don't affect their work.... because no one is asking them to walk 1000+ steps or more to compete in their only break - their unpaid lunch break- for bonus half days off -for being fit shoes bodied- in a team of other colleagues. In fact no one may recall that person who couldn't walk until spinal or knee op , and that they manage it very well. And why should they disclose to others, it isn't in job spec. And never would likely to be.

Start telling people they "have to stomp around their house or take their children - not in pupilLunch break time but adults one- out with them to do a walk that they might not be able to do each day... " well.. it's horrible situation to put people into.

It is exactly what union reps and HR are for, because it's utterly discriminatory and may end up in disabling bullying . No employer wants that scenario, even if the individual manager MEANS well

Sparticuscaticus · 25/02/2021 19:35

*fit able bodied
Not fit shoes bodied 🤣

Sparticuscaticus · 25/02/2021 19:37

@BlueSoop

1,000 steps isn’t that many It could be 10 steps. That’s still too many. The point is that the employer has no right to request any steps at all. It’s discriminatory against those who can’t do even 1 step. And saying disabled people and those who are home schooling etc can opt out is still discrimination because then they don’t have an equal opportunity to win the prize.
Smile
Sparticuscaticus · 25/02/2021 19:38

Spot on Comment Blue Soop

mumto3boysHE · 25/02/2021 19:43

Erm, 10 minutes a day x 5 days a week x 4 weeks for the month totals around 4 hours. So they are asking you to spend 4 hours of YOUR OWN TIME over a month doing some steps to earn 4 hours OFF!

Chuck in the pressure of being in a team as well?
Erm, no thanks...

Muchtoomuchtodo · 25/02/2021 19:48

I wish I got an hour for lunch - getting out for a 10 minute walk would be a great thing to do, especially if it gave me half a day off at the end of the month!

Iwouldbecomplex · 25/02/2021 19:49

1000 steps is nothing. If you're capable of walking and not already doing that you should be grateful work are encouraging it because you probably need the prod

JustLyra · 25/02/2021 19:53

So many people on this thread openly disablist, and absolutely bloody clueless as to the fact that little "unimportant" things like this just add to the constant drip-drip of stresses anyone not 100% healthy faces in the workplace. Especially at the moment.

Lemonsyellow · 25/02/2021 19:55

@Muchtoomuchtodo

I wish I got an hour for lunch - getting out for a 10 minute walk would be a great thing to do, especially if it gave me half a day off at the end of the month!
Except it wouldn’t give you a half-day off. As pp say, you spend longer doing the activity than you might get back off.
itsgettingwierd · 25/02/2021 19:55

1000 steps? Have you actually tried this to see how little distance it is? You could stand marching on the spot whilst you make
Lunch and be done Grin

Lemonsyellow · 25/02/2021 19:56

@Iwouldbecomplex

1000 steps is nothing. If you're capable of walking and not already doing that you should be grateful work are encouraging it because you probably need the prod
Are you being deliberately obtuse? Or are you unable to read the thread?
JustLyra · 25/02/2021 19:57

@itsgettingwierd

1000 steps? Have you actually tried this to see how little distance it is? You could stand marching on the spot whilst you make Lunch and be done Grin
Have you even bothered to read the OP's posts?
Lemonsyellow · 25/02/2021 19:57

@itsgettingwierd

1000 steps? Have you actually tried this to see how little distance it is? You could stand marching on the spot whilst you make Lunch and be done Grin
I despair.
waitingforgranny · 25/02/2021 19:58

I used to work for a company like this. It's annoying to be told and I don't like to be motivated with silly games

However it's only 5-10 mins of walking. I'd make a point of doing it before work just to annoy them

This will die off in a few days

PeckyOwl · 25/02/2021 19:58

@Brefugee

as PP pointed out, 10 minutes a day, 5 days a week is around the same as the half day off that only some people would get...

Don't go to a union FFS, just say no. If they then (very very very unlikely) start disciplinary procedures for not taking part then you could approach one.

One of the problems i see in all these kinds of posts from the UK is that so many people don't know what unions are for. This is exactly the kind of thing a good union rep would take up and approach management without naming names and asking about risk assessments, encroaching into unpaid private time, and so on. They are not just about standing up and shouting "everybody out!" over something trivial.

Totally agree - it's depressing how many people here don't know what unions are for, and only think (too late) about joining one when the shit hits the fan for them personally. It worries me how accepting so many people on this thread are of employers dictating what people do outside their contracted hours.
WilsonMilson · 25/02/2021 19:59

You could do 1000 steps in less than 10 mins, but I do think it’s a bit childish to enforce this like you’re a bunch of school kids.

peak2021 · 25/02/2021 20:03

How does the manager have a clue about the locality of the area each of their team can walk in their lunch break? I can avoid people very easily, but others may not, and what if they would come into so many people that their risk of catching Covid 19 is reasonably high?

Muchtoomuchtodo · 25/02/2021 20:05

@Lemonsyellow all I’m saying is that I’d love to have along enough lunch time to be able to go for a walk. It wouldn’t feel like a chore and yet I might still get an extra half day off. Sounds good to me, but I can see why others might not feel the same.

Passenger42 · 25/02/2021 20:07

Can you not make an excuse that you cannot spare the time in your lunch break as you have to shop for vulnerable parents, do home schooling, cook lunch for a family, or you have a twisted ankle as you tripped over the dog out walking.. just lie...