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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To hate having to do a 'fun quiz' every week at work, and other corporate rubbish?

71 replies

corporaterubbish · 05/03/2023 13:59

Every Monday we have a team meeting, there's around 15 of us. Each week someone gets picked to have to create and present a 'fun quiz', and then we all get picked on randomly to say the answer. I dread it each week, a lot of the time I don't know the answers, I don't know if it's because I don't have a lot in common with my colleagues.

Then we have monthly meetings with the whole department, and someone is asked at random to present a short presentation about themselves/their life. Usually filled with pictures of extensive travelling and running marathons/excelling at tennis/hiking.

There is a weekly happy hour in the office with champagne (?), wine and beer. Then there are monthly socials we are all encouraged to attend. If I'm in the office when one of these socials is taking place, it is pretty impossible to get out of.

Everyone around me seems to lap all of this up and find it fun, and I feel so miserable in comparison but AIBU to hate all of this?!

OP posts:
Babooshka1990 · 05/03/2023 18:50

The quizzes sound really bizarre

cansu · 05/03/2023 18:51

That sounds hideous. I would not be able to work somewhere like that. Why do people need to do presentations about themselves? Why? Madness.

cocoatheclone · 05/03/2023 18:56

Let me guess...

Sales
Tech start up
Recruitment

Am i close?

randommusings8 · 05/03/2023 19:03

Sounds really cringey.
Just out of interest what industry are you in and roughly what is the average age of the theme?
If everyone else loves it, they are probably extroverts, (or pretending to be), whereas you sound like an introvert- nothing wrong with that and very narrow minded for your workplace to make everything so extrovert-focused.

JustJamie5 · 05/03/2023 19:05

Uuuugh! Sounds painful! I’m glad it’s a rarity where I work!

I do wonder if it could be damaging to the company too….. all the activities will be enjoyed by specific types of people, which isn’t very good for diversity! As an introvert I’d feel overwhelmed by some of this stuff…. And that’s just one personality trait! I wonder how it impacts on some people with disabilities. For example some autistic people struggle with social interactions etc (clearly not all autistic people!)

Merlott · 05/03/2023 19:21

Gross. From a managerial POV, ridiculous waste of time for everyone. I'd be wanting my team to spend their paid time working, but I suspect you're all expected to do extra unpaid hours to make up for the socials?

All in all this stuff is a huge red flag. It's very likely to be enabling a non diverse and non inclusive workplace culture.

Wombats23 · 05/03/2023 21:25

Yeah, this, as an introverted ND person, it really winds me up. I haven't got the energy or the "top down" control to deal with it. It always ends badly.

It's no real surprise I've not worked in a proper job for donkey years.

catsonahottinroof · 05/03/2023 21:37

I'd hate this stuff like this too and I always think these sort of workplaces haven't got enough proper work to be doing. To be fair, I wouldn't mind the quiz that much and I'd like the happy hour, but the presenting, especially about myself, would be my idea of hell.

Lemondrizzle20 · 05/03/2023 21:55

Let me guess... new young manager (under 30); lots of jolly hockey stick kitten heeled HR types in jobs with titles like Staff Engagement and Rewards Officer; bloated HR department without much actual work to do?

Thing is, these bright young 20 somethings don't seem to realise that when you're my sort of age you got all this nonsense out of your system at least 25 years ago... I work in a part of the public sector where those of us with actual jobs don't have time for this nonsense. If you really genuinely wanted a cohesive team, HR, this is not the way to do it...you could start by not threatening us all with hot desking like we were a big four accounting company or corporate bank, thanks ( give you three guesses where several of those in the latest corporate saviour complex cohort came from!)

I also do anything I can to get out of this utter garbage.... I reckon I can get away with attending one in four if I have to, though I have a boss who's also new to the sector and just LOVES socialising....

Beesandhoney123 · 06/03/2023 04:50

An office Teddy? Seriously? I can't imagine being given the office Teddy and told to take him/ her on trips. Actually, I can't imagine anyone asking me.

I wouldn't share my personal life or photos. Just repeat what they already know. ' hi, I'm x, work , and walk to work. My Job is x, which I love. I have an idea for trips so we all feel part of a team! Meet Teddy..."

Cassiehopes · 06/03/2023 05:05

Id love this!

Goodread1 · 06/03/2023 05:28

Hi Op
I like fun quiz especially if it's based on general knowledge and also covers a wide range across the board other subject matters too,

If it was just a one off thing , I would be OK, bit apprehensive at first about idea of providing interesting things you've done and places you have travelled to,

I could do that, I get that of sorts,
But I can also see it could someone's idea of a nightmare mental exercise to even Consirder ,let alone actually amagine doing this,
Less cofindent people would really struggle with this,but feel immerse achievement once they have done this,
the only thing I would think too, if someone has led a more adventurous life than someone else and another person led a very average kind of life,
The one who is obviously extrovert, who has the cofindence at trying out different stuff, ect
Could come across be perceived as boasting to others,
even though it's not like that way,

Everything else comes as management trying to hard to encourage everyone to bond, with each other,
it's far too Contrived, and too often socials happening,

I understand Christmas 🎄 time works do, getogether,

Certain jobs/careers obvious spend more time around drinking culture to bond and networking /brainstorm about ideas, work related "hunches" ect culture,
but this over time can have a adverse affect on health,

I would loath that kind of drinking culture expections all the time,
It would be ok now and again along as their was a choice of non alchol versions of drink too

It must feel too much at times, especially if work colleagues are not sort of people you would want to spend any time outside work with too

Companyofwolves · 06/03/2023 05:36

corporaterubbish · 05/03/2023 17:40

Hahaha that reminds me, we DO have a 'teddy for the weekend' thing too! We have a company bear we have to take with us whenever we go travel for work, and we have to take a picture of it there (e.g. if the meeting is in Paris, there'll be a picture of the teddy next to the Eiffel Tower). I wish I was making this up...

Oh god 🤮

StalkedByASpider · 06/03/2023 05:39

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 05/03/2023 17:57

I am retired. I don't miss work. This thread has reminded me again why that is. Sympathies.

I'm self-employed and for the past 13 years I've been working at home on my own.

This thread reminds me why I am never, ever returning to the workplace 😅

HangingOver · 06/03/2023 05:43

Is this Vodafone

Redebs · 06/03/2023 05:46

Completely inappropriate for the workplace.

Encouraging people to overshare personal information, compete on general knowledge and consume alcohol at work is highly irresponsible.

Anyone managing anxiety, difficulties at home or substance issues is being put in a horrible position. These routines are discriminatory against people who don't drink for religious or health reasons. And does anyone drive home after 'happy hour'?

Redebs · 06/03/2023 05:50

corporaterubbish · 05/03/2023 17:40

Hahaha that reminds me, we DO have a 'teddy for the weekend' thing too! We have a company bear we have to take with us whenever we go travel for work, and we have to take a picture of it there (e.g. if the meeting is in Paris, there'll be a picture of the teddy next to the Eiffel Tower). I wish I was making this up...

Straight from KS1 curriculum.
FFS, you're not 5 years old!

pinkfondu · 06/03/2023 05:54

That's quite a lot of 'staff engagement' isn't it. There are definitely people who feel the same as you about it they just hide it well. With stuff like that which I don't like if I find myself working out how much I've been paid to endure it and remember in the grand scheme of things I could hate about my job, this is pretty low no matter how annoying.

Needmorelego · 06/03/2023 06:50

I would have hated this type of thing for most of my life - so much I probably would have been phoning in ill or shaking in the toilets thinking about it.
However in the last few years I have basically learned that I don't give a f**k what people think about me.
Don't know the answers in a quiz - I would shrug or laugh it off with a "well sorry I don't know anything about X subject".
The drinking - I would bring my own supply of non alcoholic drinks in because I don't drink alcohol. If someone asks why my answer is "I don't like alcohol" because that's the actual reason.
The presentation thing - just don't take it seriously.
As for the teddy.... that's quite hilarious. That's the sort of nonsense I would find quite fun to do.
Basically....just kind of go with a "this is all pathetic and hilarious" attitude and don't take it seriously or worry/care what people think if you don't know answers in some non important quiz.

sorcerersapprentice · 06/03/2023 07:03

I don't mind any of this sort of stuff really. As long as it doesn't impact on work load, it's fine. I like getting to know people better by understanding their interests- but I can see how it becomes boasting and competitive for some.
What I really don't like, however, is the 'share' stuff where people, often Senior folk, talk about deeply personal experiences that have impacted them - I don't need to know that at work. Feels like they've exposed themselves too much and can feel a bit excruciating BlushConfused

ALongHardWinter · 02/05/2023 15:29

All these things come under the heading guaranteed to strike fear into my heart:- FUN!

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