To feel so stupid ? New job problems

[nereef]

I started a new job last Wednesday.
12 of us started and I hate it.
I'm quite a shy person.
All I wanted to do was come in,learn the job and crack on.
First day we had to stand up and talk about ourselves for 5 mins (fair enough ) then they did a presentation on the company.
They got everyone to read a paragraph each out loud to the rest of the group(seriously felt as if I was back in school,I was stuttering my words and didn't take in any info as I was concentrating so hard not to get my paragraph wrong)
Now the beginning of each day and end of the day ..they do a quiz.
We have to get in teams of 4 and when we know the answer (we have to mooo like a cow and say the answer)
Now tomorrow it's a dance off.
This is a contact centre for a well known mobile phone company.
I feel so stupid doing all this.
They are wasting the day with all this rubbish instead of learning the company products.
I would have learnt more if they had gave me a manual.
Aibu here or is this ridiculous?

I wouldn't go back. I'm quite shy and this sounds awful

I’m not shy or anxious and this is making me feel sick.

I don’t know what to advise you if you need the job but I would say you can’t possibly be the only person who hates this.

Sounds awful. Ask if it is okay to "moo" when to your customers when you are about to resolve their query. If it ain't okay for their customers, then it ain't okay for you either. You need to speak to your manager or hr about this and perhaps think about leaving. They are taking the p* just because they've given you a job. Some places are just not professional.

honestly I think this shoudl be illegal. It discriminates against those that may be less extrovert than others.

Working in teams is important, but that doesn't mean you need to stand up in front of everyone and moo like a cow or do a little dance.

I still vividly remember a 'team building' exercise where we had a dance competition. All the UK members ended up in the final and I could have honestly died. Turns out afterwards they fixed the results to put us all on the spot.

Nope. No way. (I cried at a wedding once because my exH insisted I get up and dance when I didn't want to.) I'd quit.
So sorry OP. I can well imagine how much anxiety this must be causing you. I'd follow up my resignation with a letter to manager and HO.

Omg !!! I'd be so embarrassed!! I hope you find a better job soon xx

@Loopylobes

This sounds like training you to be controlled and abused. If it were happening in the context of a relationship, you'd be advised to walk awa PDQ.

You are being exposed to pressures to adjust your personal boundaries and accept things you wouldn't usually so that you will be easier to push into behaving badly in your day job.
.

Yes, this was my first thought too. They want people who are able to stand up for themselves to walk away now before they have any employment rights. They will end up with a work force that will accept any working conditions no matter how shit, whether they are legal or illegal.

I only just started reading this thread, and @nereef I'm so glad you've left, for your own sanity! I almost hyperventilated just thinking about it.

What;s that OP? You hurt your ankle and can't do the dance off? That's a shame...

I am not shy, and this would not be my idea of fun at all!

Just read your updates OP. Well done for quitting. Fingers crossed you will get a good job soon where employees are treated with respect and professionalism .

Good lord, have they been taking tips from David Brent?! (They do know the Office is a mockumentary, not a guidebook, right?) I really did think all of this forced fun training whacky nonsense had died out in the 1990s but evidently not...What exactly does mooing like a cow or doing a stupid dance have to do with the job, for God's sake?

Good for you for quitting, OP, I hope you find something more suitable for you soon. Really wish we had a world where the extroverts weren't in charge so much!

OP I would speak to the trainer or HR in confidence.

Explain you really want the job and you know you'll be good at it, but explain how your mental health is being impacted by the enforced fun. You should be given an option to opt out if the activities thare are having a negative impact

Sorry OP I missed your update saying you'd quit. Good decision

@nereef

Thanks everyone I've quit. made a decision last night and feel so much better this morning. Will now be looking for more office based roles. I have administration experience so hopefully will find something. Even if it's just on a temp contract. Thankyou for making me feel like it wasn't me being OTT

Well done!

i'd be emailing them to let them know why you came to this decision.

good luck for the job search!

OP you certainly have not done the wrong thing by quitting. That sounds absolutely horrendous and whilst I am quite an extrovert I am sat here cringing on your behalf. Whoever thinks this sort of crap up? I literally have no respect for any company or person that thinks is in anyway motivational towards building a team.

@Cosmos45

I totally agree with you. I worked for similar companies in the early naughties. On my first day I was told "If we have a social event, you WILL be there or WE don't want you here.". Completely killed my socializing mojo and I dodged nearly every event without being fired. Prior to that, I'd been pretty sociable in all my previous jobs. We were forced to dress up in schoolgirl outfits while the management perved. '60s themed dress-up days where we were kitted out while getting an arse-kicking at the same time for not hitting unachievable targets. It was hell. This was in my twenties, I would not tolerate it for one second these days.

I've come to the conclusion that in some cases, it is a psychological test to see who will just comply (the ones they want) and who will put up a fight (the ones they don't want). In most cases, though I think the person making up these ideas really truly believes it is team building.

I've found that these sort of things do build teams; team members usually unite in hating the place and plotting their quickest exit.

Well done OP for getting out. I will never, ever, ever use EE after reading this. Businesses that do this sort of thing should be named, shamed, and avoided by potential employees and consumers alike.

Ahhh yes because when I’ve been charged outside of contract i will be delighted to know that Julie formally known as Ranvir won the floss competition I couldn’t give a shit remove my charges.

This doesn’t help you deal with angry customers because Dave has a better moo than you. You need to learn how to speak to people, have good support and make sure your managers are supportive