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?

Really OP?

To be fair depending on the line of work it could be relevant to the employer, if the role requires security clearance for example.

So you want to control choices of your colleagues on their own time. Eh can you not see the irony of that?

To give a different point of view - wherever there is a refugee or similar crisis there are dodgy sole agent blokes descending to 'help', 'escort' and 'protect' vulnerable women and minors. You can't do much about it but I wouldn't rule out that being a motive.

Does the OP mention sex. Or gender ?

The chances of a woman doing this are vanishingly slim.

No! Companies can't restrict what people do in their personal time (outside of some highly specialised government roles). Companies don't have policies against any of the things you said.

While I agree, it seemed a tad presumptuous to assume. Especially as the OP had been careful not to hint at sex, gender or hairstyle.

There are certainly a few Brits and other non Ukrainian nationals driving as far as eastern Poland/western Ukraine on a regular basis in order to deliver aid/equipment/assistance. As has been said by others upthread the whole area isn’t a war zone. That said there is probably more exposure risk to the further East you go (e.g. getting caught out by a drone strike).

Personally I’m not sure the colleague’s plans have anything to do with the OP or company HR unless they are in a sensitive line of work.

I am aware of someone in my industry who travelled to Ukraine to coordinate the logistics of their fundraising. However, the difference is that person was Ukrainian, connected to the country, and fully fluent in Ukrainian, Russian and English. They also paid for their own travel - it didn't come out of the fundraising efforts.

OP, you don't state if the travel to Ukraine is connected to the fundraising or if your colleague just wants to visit. Perhaps it's intended as an act of solidarity, or perhaps, given their previous travel history, they're an adrenaline junkie who gets off on weird acts of travel.

As this is a team member, you're allowed to feel concerned in your own head, but all you can do professionally is ensure the colleague doesn't leave for a war-torn country without leaving behind a full handover list, to minimise disruption to the business.

Worth asking HR if there's a policy like this

It's nothing to do with you, and nothing to do with their employer. Keep your nose out.

There have been a few people from my area who've been out there as part of a really impressive fundraising drive and support system for Ukrainians. Two of those people are women, actually. Depending on what exactly this person is planning to do it there, it's not necessarily completely stupid. But even if it was, it's nothing to do with their colleagues or the company.

@KrisAkabusi

Did you read my post?

I sad sick pay, health insurance etc.

If the person is delayed in getting back to work, the company may issue disciplinary proceedings etc if it's against their policy.

I know my previous firm would not approve leave requests for travel that required quarantine when Covid regs were in place.

Yes I think its worth checking if there are any policies like this. Other than that stay out of it.

They want to spend a week talking to people about their lives there, as an act of solidarity, and to add credibility to further fundraising

This is totally cringey. And they don’t speak Ukrainian or Russian, so not sure how they expect to manage this - clearly just hoping to show off when they get back, like an embarrassing 18 year old back from a gap year.

But if they want to behave like a massive bellend, there isn’t much you can do about it.

Oh behave yourself. What a grown adult does in their own time is none of anyone's concern !

Thinking the death in service benefit won’t pay out.

I think the point about what happens if your colleague can’t get back in time to start work after leave is valid. I think you could check that internally and remind them of policy. I’d also probably remind them of SM policy. It’s the sort of thing that could end up in the press if it goes wrong and my employer would take a very dim view of ‘Edwinbear, earning £x at y company, travelling to Ukraine against FO advice, gets stuck out there’, being splashed all over the Daily Mail.

What type of organisation do you work for? A large company, public sector etc may well want to know.

You could do a very bland 'i wasn't sure if I should make you aware but just in case xx is travelling to... On x date's.

If it's public sector and this goes tits up and your colleague is injured, becomes a hostage etc then it's going to make work for the press office and senior team.

I'd also assume this might void death in service benefits if they have dependents.

This is correct!

What do they expect people to say?!

" Well we have no electricity, our house is damaged and we can't go shopping because the supermarket is rubble and by the way since our house has no doors or windows looters stole from us"

Cringey Bellend is a lot nicer than I would say.

If I wanted to do something for whatever the reason I would personally not appreciate anyone else, especially a colleague trying to give their opinion, nevermind trying to get HR involved! It’s their life and their business and has nothing to do with you.

Whatever you think, you should keep it to yourself.

“вибач, друже, я не розмовляю англійською. хто ти?”

(according to Google translate, anyway).

I would be concerned but would not cross the line into interference

It is none of your or the company's business

Geez. I thought slum tourism was bad. And teens going to "help a village in Africa" for 3 days.

This is next level. Visiting people in a war to talk about their lives (not even in their own language!) to inflate his ego?

Disgusting.

Do you really like this person are they friend?

If yes, talk to them honestly and openly about your concerns.

If not ...

If they get shot dead that's there problem not yours. I'd also give the funeral a miss.