Colleague going to Ukraine. Aibu to say something?

[joolieandroos]

I lead a small team at work. Outside of work one my team members has been fundraising for Ukraine, and has now booked some leave to travel there, which is obviously against current Foreign Office advice. They want to spend a week talking to people about there lives there, as an act of solidarity, and to add credibility to further fundraising. They have no family connections in Ukraine, but have a history of travelling to unusual locations, including other conflict zones. They will be travelling alone and independently, and they don't speak Ukranian or Russian. They will be spending time in Kyiv and travelling to other areas too, though they were a bit vague about exactly where. I am concerned for their welfare, and considering telling them so, and possibly mentioning it to HR (on the grounds that it is "risky behaviour"). I don't think this will stop them, but if anything happens at least I will know I didn't stand by and do nothing. Aibu?

You can't control where someone else goes, and running to HR is just bizarre. I'm sure the person knows about the danger, I don't get understand why you think you can stop them tbh

Omg lol mind your own business.

It is really none of your business and the suggestion of HR is ridiculous.

To make it run a lot smoother in the future, I think it’s probably easier if your colleagues just submit a list of legal things they plan to do in advance, and you can either give your approval or report them all to HR in a single email. That would probably free up more time for taking notes on your neighbours comings and goings.

So weird. I can't remember a time in history when people would get themselves personally involved as citizens in a foreign war.
Is this being driven by the media? We don't have TV so is it on the news or whatever?

So weird. I can't remember a time in history when people would get themselves personally involved as citizens in a foreign war.
Is this being driven by the media? We don't have TV so is it on the news or whatever?

The Spanish Civil War immediately comes to mind,

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13937616

and doing this is just opening yourself up to a grievance of some kind

If you want to tell them you're worried, then go ahead. I mean it's hardly a 'hold the front page' shocker is it? You won't be the only one.

Getting HR involved is waaaay overstepping though.

They sound like a drama tourist wanting public/FB/Insta kudos.

I wouldn't say anything and leave them be. As others have said, I'd pull them up on how it's being funded.

Are you being serious? 😳

Whilst you can’t control where a grown adult chooses to go - my work had a policy that if someone went to a destination that was listed as against all travel from the foreign office, if there was an issue and they couldn’t return they wouldn’t be paid ( for example in same way they might be if an issue in any other country)

I guess trying to make them think twice about going

Each to their own, but personally I think they haven't thought this through. I wouldn't mention it to HR either. Risky behaviour in their own time is their business.

That said....

The Ukrainian people don't need someone to tell their stories to (in person, when this can be done online - especially one who can't speak the language) or another mouth to feed right now. It's quite a patronising attitude imho.

They would be far better donating the cost of their proposed travel to help people.

Frankly it speaks to me of a kind of grim tourism to enable someone to say "look how wonderful I am" whilst actually adding negative equity to a situation.

Personally I'd rather donate to DEC, Red Cross or similar than fund someone's ill advised/reckless/pointless jaunt.
I'd probably express my concern to the individual if he was a colleahue I knew welll, but reporting th HR seems OTT.

I work in HR and we (rightly!) have no control over what someone does whilst on leave. If it affects their work, then fine. Please do not add to your HR departments workload. This is nothing to do with you.

Your colleague is obviously wrong; what does she expect Ukrainians to say to her?!

To point out the obvious that they are homeless etc with no electricity and at risk of dying at any second? How is this solidarity?

But there is nothing you can do about it; stay in your own lane yes- hers is the wrong one.

Do you go running to HR when you find out someone goes ice skating or horse riding in their spare time?

I'm sure they're perfectly aware of the risk, and it's their risk to take. Travelling against FCO advice, they'll be no consular support, but again up to them. Keep your nose out would be my advice.

It's noble in as far as the fundraising but going out there to talk to people smacks of rubbernecking. Unless they're going to distribute aid I can't see the point ? And going alone is plain stupid . Yanbu to say what you think but I wouldn't report to Hr

Yup, I agree. You really don’t have to look very far back.

Just keep out of it. If this person travels against government advice, its on his/her own head.
Just wait for the gofundme begging post when they are injured/stuck in war zone...

It would only be relevant to work if the fund-raising had been done there. Someone might reasonably complain that this was not what they signed up to when donating and that the colleague should have been honest about it.

If they want to know what it is like in Ukraine and to show solidarity then perhaps they should meet with some of the refugees here and see what they can do to help them.

One of my husband’s colleagues did this, in the sumner to be fair. And is still in touch with people he met. He spent a lot of time talking to people. Following i5 on fb was really fascinating. He felt safe. Wouldn’t do it myself but entirely his choice.

Unless the fundraising is to get them out there, in which case it's a total waste of their friends and family's generosity and benefits the intended recipient in no way.

@Mischance exactly. What possible benefit to a Ukrainian person could it be?

They're taking personal leave, where they visit and what they do there is not your business. What if they were sky diving or attending orgies, would you comment on those activities as their manager?