Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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:
LST · 25/02/2021 22:06

@Lulu49

The amount of time it takes to hit 1000 steps is minimal and even people with disabilities (assuming not wheelchair bound) would likely manage that so I suggest you get walking. Your blowing up up out ofvall proportion 🙄
I'm one of those people. And no I'd not be participating. Even for 1000 steps.
feistyoneyouare · 25/02/2021 22:08

@Lulu49

The amount of time it takes to hit 1000 steps is minimal and even people with disabilities (assuming not wheelchair bound) would likely manage that so I suggest you get walking. Your blowing up up out ofvall proportion 🙄
This is easily the most insensitive thing I've read on MN all day.

Your post suggests a very poor understanding of disability issues.

PracticingPerson · 25/02/2021 22:09

I regularly do a decent walk at lunch time but would still refuse to take part in any organised bossiness.

JustLyra · 25/02/2021 22:12

@Lulu49

The amount of time it takes to hit 1000 steps is minimal and even people with disabilities (assuming not wheelchair bound) would likely manage that so I suggest you get walking. Your blowing up up out ofvall proportion 🙄
Wow.

There’s been a lot of disablist comments on this thread, but this one has to be very near the top.

Lemonsyellow · 25/02/2021 22:14

@Lulu49

The amount of time it takes to hit 1000 steps is minimal and even people with disabilities (assuming not wheelchair bound) would likely manage that so I suggest you get walking. Your blowing up up out ofvall proportion 🙄
I can’t walk 100 steps, never mind 1,000. My lunch-breaks are spent doing physiotherapy, actually eating my lunch and doing mindfulness - because that’s all good for my health. Compulsory walking an impossible 1,000 steps while not doing physio, eating lunch and mindfulness would be spectacularly bad for my health. And even if I wanted to spend my breaks lying on the sofa, stuffing myself with doughnuts, that’s my choice too - in my own free time.
WeIcomeToGilead · 25/02/2021 22:27

Have you got a dog? Tie your phone to the dog
Or
Get some housework done you can easily do 1000 steps having some hoover fun!

Lemonsyellow · 25/02/2021 22:29

Get some housework done you can easily do 1000 steps having some hoover fun!

No, this isn’t possible, or desirable, or legal, even with an exclamation mark.

Therarestone · 25/02/2021 22:39

@accidentallyonpurpose

Nobody is being forced to do anything though are they. They are being grumpy for the sake of it. Don't want to do it then don't, honestly it's really very simple.

WeIcomeToGilead · 25/02/2021 22:50

@Lemonsyellow

Get some housework done you can easily do 1000 steps having some hoover fun!

No, this isn’t possible, or desirable, or legal, even with an exclamation mark.

I know.... I was being flippant Hmm
Lemonsyellow · 25/02/2021 22:51

They are being grumpy for the sake of it.

Another disablist and bullying comment. As well as anti-anyone with caring responsibilities, usually women, And other groups too. I’m truly shocked that people are still coming out with this stuff after however many pages.

JustLyra · 25/02/2021 23:05

[quote Therarestone]@accidentallyonpurpose

Nobody is being forced to do anything though are they. They are being grumpy for the sake of it. Don't want to do it then don't, honestly it's really very simple.[/quote]
Do you actually have pride in your ability to be downright disablist and offensive?

How bizarre.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 25/02/2021 23:18

[quote Therarestone]@accidentallyonpurpose

Nobody is being forced to do anything though are they. They are being grumpy for the sake of it. Don't want to do it then don't, honestly it's really very simple.[/quote]
How is being put on a team regardless of any concerns and people expressing their reluctance not forcing?

How is blackmail about "not letting the team down" not forcing?

Nith · 25/02/2021 23:20

[quote Therarestone]@accidentallyonpurpose

Nobody is being forced to do anything though are they. They are being grumpy for the sake of it. Don't want to do it then don't, honestly it's really very simple.[/quote]
It would be naive to think that people who refuse won't have been noted down as being not team players, unco-operative, lazy, etc.

Mamanyt · 26/02/2021 00:03

A couple of questions...Being from the USA, I am not up on British labor laws. This may be illegal. Check with your Board of Labor (whatever its name may be). OK, not a question, but a statement. Now to the question. Do you have paid or unpaid lunch breaks? And that may determine the exact answer from your Board of Labor.

Under normal circumstances, in the USA, an employer could not dictate your actions during an unpaid lunch break. You are not being paid, you cannot be told to take part in an activity without being paid. This would be considered the same as forcing you to attend an unpaid meeting on your day off. Won't fly here. WELL..."no drinking during work hours (lunch included)" is fairly usual, but not the absolute rule. LOTS of "martini lunches" here.

OnionsAreToxic · 26/02/2021 06:05

I mis-read the title of this thread.

OnionsAreToxic · 26/02/2021 06:07

Also, wtf is 'hoover fun'?

Billben · 26/02/2021 06:34

This would be a big fat NO from me 😀 I can’t believe how many people would let their employer get away with behaviour like this. Doesn’t anybody stand up for anything anymore?
What I do with my time when I’m not getting paid is up to me. If OP’s boss is so concerned about their employee’s health, they can arrange stuff like this during working hours and make it optional.

PracticingPerson · 26/02/2021 06:38

@Billben

This would be a big fat NO from me 😀 I can’t believe how many people would let their employer get away with behaviour like this. Doesn’t anybody stand up for anything anymore? What I do with my time when I’m not getting paid is up to me. If OP’s boss is so concerned about their employee’s health, they can arrange stuff like this during working hours and make it optional.
This amazes me too, were people always such doormats or have they been crushed later in life?
GreenlandTheMovie · 26/02/2021 07:22

@Mamanyt

A couple of questions...Being from the USA, I am not up on British labor laws. This may be illegal. Check with your Board of Labor (whatever its name may be). OK, not a question, but a statement. Now to the question. Do you have paid or unpaid lunch breaks? And that may determine the exact answer from your Board of Labor.

Under normal circumstances, in the USA, an employer could not dictate your actions during an unpaid lunch break. You are not being paid, you cannot be told to take part in an activity without being paid. This would be considered the same as forcing you to attend an unpaid meeting on your day off. Won't fly here. WELL..."no drinking during work hours (lunch included)" is fairly usual, but not the absolute rule. LOTS of "martini lunches" here.

We don't have boards of labour here but we have quite strong employment rights, both statutory ahd common law.

The 1000 steps suggestion is potentially indirectly discriminatory in a number of protected categories. It also seems likely in breach of the common law duty of trust and confidence owed by employer to employee, and the duty of respect. Depending on the way the policy was implemented, it could lead to various claims.

Many lunch breaks are unpaid and so it seems likely to take place outwith working time and so wouldn't be covered by employers' liability insurance. From a health and safety perspective, it should involve a thorough risk assessment of the place it was to take place by the employer.

Such a policy potentially breaches so many laws, guidelines and rules that it's idiotic to put in place. The way to do such a thing would be to very carefully write guidelines, stressing it's voluntary nature, any necessary adjustments and opt outs and making it clear that it will not be used as a basis for discriminating against employees who don't participate, instead presenting it as an employee benefit which the employee can choose to participate in.

Any manager suggesting such a policy is badly educated in UK employment law and a liability to an employer. It also seems potentially in breach of several human rights.

Nith · 26/02/2021 07:23

God Forbid, a manager trying to motivate the team to improve their mental and physical health? What HAS the world come to.

So why not motivate them during work time rather than order them to do it in their free time? And how exactly will it help either the mental or physical health of disabled people?

Parker231 · 26/02/2021 07:26

Posters are taking this way too seriously. It’s a 10 minutes walk. If you want to do it, do so. Other than physical limitations, I would imagine people are doing it anyway. If you aren’t interested, don’t do it.

LuaDipa · 26/02/2021 09:08

My gym has done this. Popped us into teams and is scoring said teams on twice a week logging of reps as proof of participation. There is no opt out and we are being cheered on by our friendly team members to not let the side down. I am doing the workouts but I resent having to log my scores as I don’t really care about competing and it’s another thing on my to do list. I’m also pissed off that they haven’t frozen memberships and are charging me for this.

I’m sure it comes from a good place, wanting to lift everyone’s spirits, but what would be better is dropping those who aren’t participating a nice message to see how they are. Which categorically isn’t happening.

Parker231 · 26/02/2021 09:13

Of course there is an opt out. Just do whatever gym work you want, scores are irrelevant.

Belladonna12 · 26/02/2021 09:20

@Parker231

Posters are taking this way too seriously. It’s a 10 minutes walk. If you want to do it, do so. Other than physical limitations, I would imagine people are doing it anyway. If you aren’t interested, don’t do it.
People haven't been given the option to opt out as they have been placed in teams and if they don't want to do it there will be pressure from the rest of the team as they won't get the "prize" (in this case annual leave). And what if you are unable to do it even if you wanted to? The walk is nothing to do with the job, it's not in work time and it is not voluntary as people were put into teams without being asked. It's clearly discriminatory.
poppycat10 · 26/02/2021 09:29

It would be naive to think that people who refuse won't have been noted down as being not team players, unco-operative, lazy, etc

So the OP can find a better job with sensible colleagues when things open back up.

Is her employer going to provide her with a fitbit and/or smartphone to use a step app on? I know the younger MNers won't be able to believe it, but not everyone has a smartphone.