Work forcing walks

[CaramelCandle]

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.

[EachBleachBlairTrump]

My work did this in the first lockdown but we were told we could have an hour a day to do it from working time, not your lunch time and it was optional. Most people were more than happy to join in, couldn't do it every day as work is busy , they can't force you to use your break time in the way they choose!

[titchy]

I'd sent a very brief email back (copying in the whole team) saying 'Please note I am unable to participate in this voluntary activity and would suggest that I am either excluded from a team or put into a team with others who are also unable to participate'

Then if you are out into a team with the keen people they'll know to blame whoever put you with them if they fail to win. It'll also flag to others that it's ok to say no. And isn't particularly inflammatory to your managers.

[MadinMarch]

I'd find a way of doing it in worktime... one or two extra 'toilet breaks' should be enough for 1000 steps... either actually walking or just swinging my arm holding my phone

[ChrissyPlummer]

@edwinbear where are you that the weather is ‘lovely’? Yesterday here was gale force winds , so severe there was a weather warning. Today, it’s chucking it down. Monday was lovely for the time of year, but it isn’t consistent.

Where I work we’ve decided together to do a team challenge next month but no pressure on anyone. There are different levels for those less mobile/short of time.

[Redburnett]

It sounds a good idea to me and 1000 steps is not actually that much. This sounds like an employer seeking a way to improve employee well-being during lockdown by encouraging a bit of exercise, and a bit of teamwork (potentially good for mental health). Rewarding teams with a half-day off sounds great to me.

[sunflowersandbuttercups]

If your lunch breaks are not paid, they have no right to tell you to do anything.

I would honestly put a complaint in about it. It's illegal.

[Dagnabit]

Just jog on the spot for 5-10 mins...job done. I hate enforced team stuff but luckily my team feels the same so we ignore and grump together! I try to do 1000 steps an hour during my work day but that’s just a personal goal.

[ilovesooty]

If my refusal wasn't taken on board I would be seeking union support actually. They can't bring in something potentially discriminatory as policy nor instruct you in how you use your unpaid time.

[Tubs11]

So your company has gone to the effort of thinking up ideas to keep the team engaged while working from home with half a days leave to win and you're p!ssed off about this? No offense but I'd need pained to work with you

[sunflowersandbuttercups]

@Redburnett

It sounds a good idea to me and 1000 steps is not actually that much. This sounds like an employer seeking a way to improve employee well-being during lockdown by encouraging a bit of exercise, and a bit of teamwork (potentially good for mental health). Rewarding teams with a half-day off sounds great to me.

It's not a good idea for an employer to try and make their employees do anything in their UNPAID lunch hour.

[olderthanilookapparently]

Shake your phone up and down for 5 minutes it counts steps that way - or give it to a small child to run around for a bit

No way I would even consider this and I like a walk!

[Imaginetoday]

Your boss is over reaching their role and intruding into your personal life - it’s actually bullying. To use peer pressure to this extent is very misguided and it has the potential to seriously back fire on dissenters and break teams up or set them against one another- hardly team building. Actually sounds that it’s thought out by some keep fit junky who’s pretty dim

Is it just your boss..in that case they need a firm push back that it is not appropriate to use company hour time off bribery to make people do physical activity in their own time. It is potentially discriminatory. And it is not part of your contract. If they want to make you do exercise it is in paid time, your contract needs to be changed and a risk assessment performed.
Tell them they need to rethink how they can encourage people in their own time without being discriminatory for those that can’t or won’t do this in their own time over lunch. Or straight off tell them they are massively over reaching their responsibilities and should go away and understand their role better

If they don’t rethink tell them you will raise it with HR due to your concerns.

If it’s a company wide- send letter to HR immediately

I know it’s not a lot of steps, but there are many reasons why a quick walk around your area at lunchtime may not be safe. Physical disability or restrictions ( what if someone has a broken/ strained ankle or condition like plantar fiscitus - they can’t walk and the whole team is penalised..🤦‍♀️), or roads around are very polluted or not nice areas to walk, or you as woman don’t feel safe walking alone.

Also going out in all weather is fine..but they’d have to pay me for time in redoing my hair after- rain makes it look Meh! No way do I go out for a walk in miserable cold piddling down rain- I will simply do more naturally on lovely days.

[sunflowersandbuttercups]

@Dagnabit

Just jog on the spot for 5-10 mins...job done. I hate enforced team stuff but luckily my team feels the same so we ignore and grump together! I try to do 1000 steps an hour during my work day but that’s just a personal goal.

Like fuck would I be doing that on my UNPAID lunch hour.

Companies have zero right to enforce this kind of bullshit.

[Nothinglikeachocolatebrownie]

It's stupid. Adults are in charge of their own lives. Even if you went for a walk it shouldn't be anything to do with your work.

[MintyMabel]

1000 steps? I record that most days, no extra walk required and I am pretty much sitting at my desk all day.

If you don’t want to take part, just say”no thanks” and move on. Let the rest of the team know you have opted out and let them bitch about it to whoever has organised it.

Seems like a non issue.

[Tartyflette]

The posters who are applauding this as a great idea, helps fitness, teamwork etc etc -- indeed, that may be all fine and dandy as long as it's
A / completely voluntary and
B/ taking place during work time that is paid for, with opt-outs for anyone with mobility or other health problems. Not during the employees' own time.

[AtLeastThreeDrinks]

Honestly just wear it around the house, you'll rack up 1,000 steps wandering from your desk to the kettle.

[Lemonsyellow]

@Redburnett

It sounds a good idea to me and 1000 steps is not actually that much. This sounds like an employer seeking a way to improve employee well-being during lockdown by encouraging a bit of exercise, and a bit of teamwork (potentially good for mental health). Rewarding teams with a half-day off sounds great to me.

It’s bullying, controlling, unpaid labour, which isn’t allowed, discriminatory, etc. All of that is damaging to employee wellbeing. I’m speechless that anyone thinks this is an acceptable idea, let alone a great one. Just refuse.

[emmathedilemma]

you could do 1000 steps just round the house making lunch and going a few chores!

[Tal45]

1000 steps is apparently 0.4 of a mile so almost nothing. I think it's a really good idea BUT I think they should give you an extra 10 minutes lunch time each day to do it rather than give some people a half day off.

[NoSausageRoll]

Would love to see your HR team’s reaction when they hear about this! People may use their lunch break for caring responsibilities/expressing milk/religious practice... there’s so many ways this is discriminatory.

[sunflowersandbuttercups]

@emmathedilemma

you could do 1000 steps just round the house making lunch and going a few chores!

That's irrelevant, though.

OP can spend her UNPAID lunch hour sleeping if she wants to. It's nothing to do with her bosses.

[Usagi12]

Have a word with HR in confidence. They can't make you do this in your lunch break. Tell them you're happy to do it during working hours but not at other times. I think you'll find this directive will disappear!

[DimOndCadwAnadlu]

I'm all for 'get moving' activities that you can feed into as a team with this whole WFH malarky. It can be encouraging, supportive and dare I say fun if done properly.

But properly means considering less mobile colleagues, factoring in the pressures of school timetables (my children have live lessons with lunch breaks that don't match up) and frankly the lack of desire from being required to join in.

Let those who want that little nudge to move more in a semi-competitive/team environment crack on with it and let those who want to opt out do so with no fuss.

[lawandgin]

I think your firm needs new HR advisers and/or employment lawyers. I'm an employment lawyer and I'm rarely surprised by the bad behaviour exhibited by some employers, but this is actually unbelievable 😱