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.

[MarinaMarinara]

Pace around late morning (or generally) during work while on the phone? I do and it is surprising how many steps you do doing that.

[LBOCS2]

@ChnandlerBong

Ours have just started something like this and we get countless emails about it.

it's because the annual 'Investors in People' audit is due and they need to tick the wellness box......

My company is platinum IIP and they don't make us do rubbish like this. In non COVID times they just used to send a masseuse and a foosball table to each office for our wellness 😁 Nowadays it's all about mental health check ins and people participating in walks up and down the country if they want to (with prizes for the most inventive way of doing the steps - stilts, carrying three children, hula hooping etc). There are enough people who want to get involved that they don't need to make grumpy people who don't play well with others like me do it too.

I would be querying this on the basis of inclusivity (it's indirectly discriminatory), and also not doing it because presumably your lunch break is unpaid - even if I suspect you'd get the 1000 steps in making your lunch anyway!

As an aside, as a manager I do find it really difficult to chase my team away from their computers to have a proper lunch break; they seem to feel that if they're not visibly there then I'm going to think they're skiving (I don't). It might be a case of this - good idea, really poor execution.

[Youngatheart00]

If it’s a lighthearted bit of fun then fair enough. But if they are putting the pressure on or making it mandatory it’s really not on as as many others have said, you are not paid for your lunch hour and therefore, it’s yours to do as you wish with! (I’m actually grateful for this reminder as I often feel guilty for taking a lunch break in these wfh times and just need to keep reminding myself it’s outside of working hours!)

Not very inclusive for those with disabilities and/or other responsibilities

If they want you to do it during work hours it still doesn’t address the above but you’re more likely to accept instructions!

I hate this ‘forced fun’

[hobbyiscodefordogging]

@unmarkedbythat

Have you a union?

😂

[fabulousathome]

Just shake your phone. That should work. You shouldn't have to use your lunchtime to do what they say. That's your time. How do they know that you don't do your 1000 steps in the evening?

Or would they like to give you extra time at lunch for this?

[MrsAudreyShapiro]

It's indirect discrimination. They are offering extra leave and it's something disabled people might find difficult, so could be excluded from on account of their disability. 1000 extra steps isn't nothing to me.

I have not disclosed my medical conditions to my employer because I don't need any adjustments to do my job. There may be similar people in your workplace.

[Thelnebriati]

They are discriminating against employees with disabilities, and ignoring your statutory breaks.

Please talk to ACAS asap.

[Dagnabit]

@sunflowersandbuttercups - Er, calm down! I didn’t say anyone had to do anything. Maybe read my post properly?

[TrimmedMyBush]

They can fuck right off. I like to sit on my arse watching my show at lunch during WFH.

[combatbarbie]

I can see the logic of incentive and presumably employer is saying this to ensure staff are getting some exercise, this actually promotes mental health. In theory I think it's great but not enforceable. I'd happily walk 2 or 3000 steps for half a day off!

[tillyandmilly]

I would be handing in my notice! How horrible for you - they have bought you and your soul! Sounds like a prison!

[Lemonsyellow]

Even in working hours they can’t make you do it. Is it in your contract? I can barely walk 100 steps but I still work full time and am a top employee. Why would the fact that I can’t walk far deny me a chance of getting more leave? It’s disability discrimination.

[lazyarse123]

I wouldn't do it in my own time. If other staff gets narky tough shit.

[nosyupnorth]

unless you're only turning the step tracker on for these 1000 steps asking for screenshots is intrusive - how many steps you've done by lunch time will mean showing them your activity for the whole morning, work related or otherwise. company's obsession with trying to find ways to monitor employees personal lives is very creepy

[Loopyloututu2]

You don’t need an excuse - just say you’re not taking part.

What are they gonna do?

[sunflowersandbuttercups]

[quote Dagnabit]@sunflowersandbuttercups - Er, calm down! I didn’t say anyone had to do anything. Maybe read my post properly?[/quote]
No, I never said you did.

But OP's company are, which is an awful idea, and puts them on very wobbly ground legally.

Companies can't make you do anything outside of your paid working hours. Especially if you're hourly paid and not salaried.

[LakieLady]

Oh god, I hate this sort of shite. Why don't they mind their own fucking business and let people get on with their work and their lives?

My employer is doing something similar and it was met with complete ridicule and cynicism by our team. And I'm waiting for a partial knee replacement, so they can fuck right off!

I know it's well intentioned, but I find it patronising and think it a lot of people do. We're all adults and our lifestyle choices are up to us. As long as people are getting on with their jobs and meeting targets or whatever, they should be left alone.

[Loopyloututu2]

Ps. I walk 10,000;steps a day and I still wouldn’t take part as a matter of principle!

[Abraxan]

@ChippyChickenChips

Is that a typo? 1000 steps is nothing, it must be a 5-10 minute walk at most

That's what I thought. I'm mid sixties and unfit but would take between 5 and 10 mins for that.

But it's irrelevant if it's 100, 1000 or 10000 steps.
It's an unpaid lunch hour.
Other people may have reasons for not wanting to use their lunch break to do this, especially when trying to homeschool children, cook and serve lunch, as well as eating lunch, etc, And that's before you even consider the impact on disabled people.

[MedusasBadHairDay]

@Lemonsyellow

Even in working hours they can’t make you do it. Is it in your contract? I can barely walk 100 steps but I still work full time and am a top employee. Why would the fact that I can’t walk far deny me a chance of getting more leave? It’s disability discrimination.

This. I'd also say that if this is being done as a wellness initiative then it's a bad choice as it will surely impact negatively on the mental health of those with disabilities? While I'm fairly open about my disability, I wouldn't feel good having to tell team mates why I wouldn't be contributing to their efforts to win half a day off.

[acatcalledjohn]

@Loopyloututu2

You don’t need an excuse - just say you’re not taking part.

What are they gonna do?

Best advice yet.

Although I'd consider reporting their failing to take in to account those with disabilities (including hidden ones which don't require workplace adjustments and as such haven't been declared).

[Dagnabit]

@sunflowersandbuttercups - I wouldn’t do it either. OP can just ignore and I doubt there would be much in the way of follow up.

[Abraxan]

And if it's so important to the firm then it should accommodated within paid work hours, with mitigation regarding missed work and for those who are disabled or temporary unable to manage it.

[Love51]

@GettingAwayWithIt

I honestly couldn’t get worked up about being encouraged to cover 1000 steps in my lunchbreak. Are people really so lazy that they won’t walk for 10 minutes? After presumably sitting all morning and prior to sitting all afternoon? Not leaving the house for anything? How very dare your workplace try and encourage a small amount of gentle exercise and fresh air. Contact the union!

We are under a stay at home order from the government. I go for a run before husband leaves for work on alternate days, and take my kids out in the afternoons the other days. Why would I want to go for a walk on works timetable! I do food prep / laundry etc, I'm not usually sat, but if work want to tell me what to do, they have to pay me - and I like walking!

[AnitaB888]

Judging by the thread about obese parents buying/feeding kids cr*p in supermarkets, this might not be a bad idea on the part of the employer.

Whether they can enforce it or not is another debate....