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?

They may not even get in if it’s as you describe. Without the language filling in visas will be hard. They will struggle to arrange transport, you can’t just fly in or book a regular company travel ticket. They’ll need to go to a neighbouring country and then source a means of crossing the border

I don’t know actually.
From the way my Ukrainian guests talk I think that 1. It depends where he goes 2. People actually would appreciate the solidarity and the chance to show another person from another country what the Russians have done , and 3. I hope he is planning on taking shitloads of presents/aid/his own personal supplies.
While this is unlikely to be the most efficient use of money I don’t think it’s pointless.
I have always been very down on virtue signalling of any kind but getting to know Ukrainians at the moment is giving me more appreciation of the importance of solidarity and symbolic actions.

I think your colleague probably knows the risks and there is nothing to say or do,

I understand your feelings, someone I knew was held captive abroad and murdered while volunteering, there is a big difference between knowing the risks and what might actually happen when you come from a country like the UK.

Well people do travel into conflict zones as part of charitable work. I assume that’s what they are doing. Their are various UK organisations with reps in Ukraine. And you have to understand the whole place isn’t a war zone.

But even if they aren’t travelling under an umbrella organisation, they know the risks as well as you and it’s none of your business. Would you report them to HR if they were planning to climb K2? Presumably not.

Focus on your own life.

The basic rule is "if you want to come and bring help, start by being self-sufficient, so you don't need help yourself". And this includes fuel, food, water - come equipped, don't rely on local resources, don't get stuck.

If the person understands this and plans to go to Kyev area with useful aid (things they really need, not random unwanted clothing and broken toys people sometimes tend to donate) I don't see any issue.
Kyev isn't an active war zone, that region is mostly about humanitarian aid now, the active combat zone is very far away.

Yes, it kind of unnecessary trip. On the other hand, for Ukraine is important that people stay interested and some volume of good will trips helps with this. Let them go through a few airstrike warnings and that person will be much more efficient in supporting Ukrainian case in their community when they come back.

There are quite a few Britons in Ukraine anyway, just living there, humanitarians, reporters and fighters as well, one more isn't a big deal.

I don't think that "expressing vague concerns" and "talking to HR" are anyhow reasonable reactions. It is an adult, want to do some good, probably will learn something for life. Chances this one person will cause diplomatic complications are minuscule.

Boundaries, OP. Move back. Mind your own business. Nothing you suggest in your post would assist your colleague. Attend to your own concerns.

It would be worth HR being aware in the sense that it does impact the workplace if his silly vanity adventure goes wrong.

If he fundraised at work on the pretence it was aid for Ukraine and he's actually expecting colleagues to fund the trip, I'd also expect work to tighten up on their policy for fundraising in the workplace.

They can't do anything about his silly trip though.

If they’ve borrowed anything from you, get it back asap.

I think this is probably right tbh.
Ukrainians really don’t want to feel they’ve been forgotten. I think they’d appreciate the solidarity.

It might not be the most efficient use of funds as you say, PP, but not pointless.

It is undoubtedly dangerous but this person does seem to have travelled to conflict areas before, so presumably knows the risks.

Tbh I can understand their impulse to do this. I won’t, as I have children who depend on me, but would love to be able to show my support in this way.

Is he a budding documentary maker? If so, I think Sean Penn got in there first and I suspect his will be a far more polished affair.

WTF?
What's it got to do with you? Mind your own business.
What's it got to do with HR? What do you think HR can possibly do ?

I've heard it all now.

It's really nowt to do with you or HR

Donating to the Red Cross (for instance) would be better than going there and using up what resources they have.

unless you think your colleague lacks mental capacity, there’s no reason to report this to anyone.
However foolhardy (and patronising) your colleague is, it’s literally none of your business otherwise.

What is your HR going to do, ground them…take away their electronics…make them write lines? I’m assuming this is a grown adult…you’re not teens working in a shop?

On a related note why do grown adults think they have any say what another grown adult does? @joolieandroos any insight into this?

If my staff member was going this, my concern would be their ability to ensure getting back to work in time after their booked leave was finished. If they are in my team, I'd want to know this was safe and secure up front , which it probably isn't as it's against Foreign Office advice,

It's a kind thing to they want to do, although slightly unusual (maybe the person is slightly unusual too?).

How easy is travel to and from Ukraine?
If there was a real risk that they'd go in the knowledge they may well get stranded, that's when I would get the business involved before they go so they know whether we would pay them whilst away or not.

A lot of my approach would be based on their personal connection to the war. As you've said they don't have any, it's a bit unclear.

First up - yes, you would be unreasonable to mention it to HR. What has "risky behaviour" to do with them? Do you report to HR if someone mentions going skiing / paragliding / bungy jumping? It has NOTHING to do with your employer what an employee does during their holidays.

Next - you would not be unreasonable to point out to your colleague that the people of Ukraine have enough on their plates to deal with, without having to look out for a feckless tourist wandering around like a fart in a trance who doesn't speak the language and thinks it's a cool thing to do to wander around a war zone.

Finally - their fundraising. Who did they pass the money too? Or were they 'fundraising' to finance their tourism?

I wouldn’t go to HR but I would talk to them and tell them they should discuss it with someone at work. With my office it would be weird for someone to do something to huge and not have management know. I also think management would try and intervene.

What on earth does this have to do with you or HR?

Ask him to leave his logins and passwords so it's not so much effort to cover his work until his replacement is recruited?

They are free to do what they wish. Although before they jet off to Ukraine to 'tell their story', I wonder if they have also spent time with that poor little old lady who lives down their street, that can't afford to turn her heating on, buy food and doesn't speak to a soul all day. I'm sure she's like to have someone to 'tell her story'. I guess that type of thing that doesn't cost a penny, doesn't make for sexy Instagram post!

All those telling OP to butt out.... have you missed that she's his team leader and she knows he's going?

If the person gets stuck in Ukraine, or worse, injured, do you not think OP could be in hot water if she hasn't checked if travel against Foreign Office advice is against company policy, given she is aware of the trip?

Who knows if company sick pay would be affected? Health insurance? I'm pretty sure lots of companies would have a policy that restricts this.

Surely all this is the colleagues problem not hers. She could of course suggest they check with HR but it's not her job to

Mind your own business.

There's nothing you or HR can do and I don't think it's your business either. By the way I still work with a lot of people who are based in Ukraine, whilst there are problems in some areas it's not the same everywhere