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:
Ninkanink · 27/02/2021 12:17

Flowers Sorry for your loss @CaramelCandle.

acatcalledjohn · 27/02/2021 14:03

@CupOfTeaAlonePlease & @teachermummy1

Read the fucking thread.

Or at least the OP's posts.

2021ishere2021 · 27/02/2021 14:05

It is so odd to force people to do it, it
Should be optional. Personally I would love it because I like walking and I have a dog. I could understand that some people wouldn't be interested though.

1000 steps is nothing though... is it really worth causing drama over? There surely has to be bigger fish to fry

Lemonsyellow · 27/02/2021 14:15

1000 steps is nothing though... is it really worth causing drama over? There surely has to be bigger fish to fry

Who says it’s nothing? You? Even 10 steps are too many. Yes, it’s worth the “drama”. It’s unpaid labour. And being compelled to join a physical team game with your colleagues in your free time, no matter that you are disabled, have small children at home, etc, or you simply don’t want to is appalling. Workers’ rights, workplace bullying and discrimination against certain sectors are about the biggest fish there are.

peak2021 · 27/02/2021 14:26

If work colleagues resent you for not taking part because you are supporting your DH at a time of bereavement, they are very nasty people. I hope this is not the case and am sorry to read of your loss.

Cloudbeeb · 27/02/2021 15:14

Most people in the team probably feel the same, I doubt a lot of them are overly enthusiastic about it. You have said no which is reasonable, they can like it or lump it, I suspect they wont be that arsed though.

Sapho47 · 27/02/2021 15:20

@TheYearOfSmallThings

I don't think they can insist on that!
They aren't theyre offering a reward
ColdBrightClearMorning · 27/02/2021 15:23

@Lemonsyellow

1000 steps is nothing though... is it really worth causing drama over? There surely has to be bigger fish to fry

Who says it’s nothing? You? Even 10 steps are too many. Yes, it’s worth the “drama”. It’s unpaid labour. And being compelled to join a physical team game with your colleagues in your free time, no matter that you are disabled, have small children at home, etc, or you simply don’t want to is appalling. Workers’ rights, workplace bullying and discrimination against certain sectors are about the biggest fish there are.

👍🏻

Wonder if they’d be as casual about it if they were asking people to do work unpaid in their lunch break? How about after work? Non working days?

People are so naive and short sighted.

Abraxan · 27/02/2021 15:46

@CupOfTeaAlonePlease

Can't believe how lazy people are.

They're promoting health, trying to make it fun.

Unless you have a disability I suggest you go for a little walk and stop whinging about it.

Honestly. Some people rope down mines for a living and you're WFH and sulking about having to go for a short walk.

If you'd read the thread you'll see the the OP does have a hidden disability.

Do those people with their ropes do that as part of their job description and within their paid hours? Or are they being expected to do this as a total unrelated to their job activity in unpaid time? Of the former than it's totally irrelevant. For the latter then they need to be looking at their employment rights.

As I keep saying if it's so important to the business then it would be in paid time, and they'd be taking into consideration disabilities and people's,known health issues. Hmm

Abraxan · 27/02/2021 15:51

1000 steps is nothing though... is it really worth causing drama over? There surely has to be bigger fish to fry

But the op has already said she has a disability and some days 1000 steps would be too much.

And re the 'bigger fish' - sometimes it's worth taking a stance to the smaller stuff to stop the bigger issues creeping in afterwards.

And making making a stance about being expected to do these things in your own unpaid time and for no consideration being given to disabilities IS worth it for many people.

NeedToGetOuttaHere · 27/02/2021 15:59

It’s not about the 1000 steps it’s about doing it in your own unpaid time. How many of us would like to be told we have to do a work thing on Saturday morning?

GawjussPreMadonna · 27/02/2021 18:13

Attach your fitbit to the dogs collar and throw a ball for 5 minutes. Problem solved and no need to even stand up Grin Or tell them you've twisted your ankle participating in the enforced walk and threaten to sue

But I agree that it's a cheeky move from your boss if you haven't been allowed to opt out.

angelfacecuti75 · 27/02/2021 20:09

What if you have kids (I know they are going back to school but some are younger) & can't go out. I'd probably say I was doing it then run round my garden a few times or up the stairs. The whole point to "fun" is that it is spontaneous and unplanned. I don't think they can enforce it. Just say you'll do it then run up and down the stairs a few times or something .

Happyher · 28/02/2021 08:30

I thought we weren’t supposed to go out unless essential- we’re in lockdown

LApprentiSorcier · 28/02/2021 08:34

@Happyher

I thought we weren’t supposed to go out unless essential- we’re in lockdown
We are allowed to go out locally for the purpose of exercise.
midnightstar66 · 28/02/2021 08:36

Give your phone/Fitbit to dc and give them 50p to run up and down the hallways a few times.

TheSmallAssassin · 28/02/2021 10:08

@LApprentiSorcier - we're allowed out once a day, so OP would have to use her one exercise trip to do something she hasn't chosen at a mandated time. It's just all wrong. I don't understand why so many posters are happy to hand over their time to their employers - and think doing that is a wonderful idea Hmm

LApprentiSorcier · 28/02/2021 10:12

[quote TheSmallAssassin]@LApprentiSorcier - we're allowed out once a day, so OP would have to use her one exercise trip to do something she hasn't chosen at a mandated time. It's just all wrong. I don't understand why so many posters are happy to hand over their time to their employers - and think doing that is a wonderful idea Hmm[/quote]
If you read the full thread you'll see I have made the same point more than once.

I was simply correcting the poster who suggested the walk would be in breach of lockdown rules. It wouldn't.

Floatyboat · 28/02/2021 10:20

Pathetic comments on this thread makes me feel justified in valuing evidence of team spirit through university sports team / drinking society membership on a CV when recruiting. What a bunch of bores you all are!

acatcalledjohn · 28/02/2021 10:47

@Floatyboat So you think it's ok to force extracurricular team stuff on your staff. Right.

SundayTeatime · 28/02/2021 10:53

@Floatyboat

Pathetic comments on this thread makes me feel justified in valuing evidence of team spirit through university sports team / drinking society membership on a CV when recruiting. What a bunch of bores you all are!
Wow, are you calling people with a disability pathetic and boring? Evidence of team spirit done in your free time on a CV is fine. What is being suggested here is not.
notdaddycool · 28/02/2021 11:01

Start ten minutes early and say sorry didn’t think you’d tell us what to do over our lunch breaks which is non directed time.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 28/02/2021 13:33

@Floatyboat

Pathetic comments on this thread makes me feel justified in valuing evidence of team spirit through university sports team / drinking society membership on a CV when recruiting. What a bunch of bores you all are!
I find your attitude pathetic to be honest. I'm quite capable of working as part of a team without socialising. Why can't people like you see that work is work and we don't need to socialise with colleagues outside of it if we don't want to? Apart from bringing the company name into disrepute work have no right to tell me what I can do in my own time. If something is that important it can be done during paid working hours.
Abraxan · 28/02/2021 13:44

@Floatyboat

Pathetic comments on this thread makes me feel justified in valuing evidence of team spirit through university sports team / drinking society membership on a CV when recruiting. What a bunch of bores you all are!
To be fair I wouldn't want to work for someone who had such a blatant disregard for disabilities anyway.
SmudgeButt · 28/02/2021 13:52

"sorry I can't provide proof as I don't have a pedometer or a phone that takes photos. Perhaps you would be willing to provide both of these free as part of my wfh kit?"