Work Golf Trip

[Kerrylass]

My colleague M40's has just advised me that he and my manager also M40's and 2 other colleagues both male are away this afternoon golfing. There is no business reason for them to do so, they will not be using AL, just an afternoon out. There will be 3 women remaining in the office.

In an effort not to drip feed - here's some additional info: -
The ladies don't play golf
2 of the party of 4 are more senior that me, one on my level and one junior.
This is not the 1st time they enjoyed such an event
My boss is flexible if i need an hour off here or there - rarely used however.
The fact that they are out of the office doesn't actually affect me and my work load.
The ladies don't get an equivalent outing.

AIBU - No skin off your nose - let the lads have their day out
YANBU - this is wrong and creates a mens club .

Well it's definitely wrong imo.

Such organised afternoon perks should be enjoyed by all the staff, irrespective of sex. The way you describe it is actually discrimination on grounds of sex.

And it's obvious that the bonding on the golf course is going to favour the career enhancement of the men.

This actualy reads like outdated behaviour from the last century to me.

Were you presented with an opportunity to join the outing? Even if I hate golf, I would personally join that type of thing. Your boss can't arrange a team bonding day out that excludes the women on purpose.

I do think it’s unfair, yes. It’s also probably deemed as sexist.

Woman are being excluded from work perks whilst the men get an afternoon off.

I would be getting the ladies in the office to get together and ask your manager when your afternoon bonding experience is happening seeing as the men get their own afternoon off.

The woman were not even invited. Boss has excluded all woman in the office from what OP has written

It seems implied by OP the way she's written it but it's not specifically stated. If that's truly the case, that the women weren't at all invited, it's discrimination pure and simple. There are laws against that crap.

My point is OP, what would happen if you said: I'm tagging along!

Yes agree, it’s awful isn’t it. It’s 2025!

This is terrible OP! I’d be fuming!

I think it would depend. If the women decided to do an activity they enjoy for the afternoon and got an afternoon off work without using any leave then I think that would be fair. If they said no to this then it’s discrimination. What would your boss say if you suggested this ?

I think he's counting on the women not being interested so that he can hide behind plausible deniability. Next time he pulls that little trick, all the women in the office should say 'great idea, we're in'. And watch him squirm because either he shuts up shop for the afternoon as you do with a properly organised team outing- or he would have to own up to his misogyny because there is no way a boss can justify that behaviour.

No - an invite wasn't extended

But it also shouldn't be segregated. A boss can't just bond with the blokes - to me that's the bigger issue, bigger than the time off.

I would ask the boss when the women’s outing is to be arranged for

This could have been made a whole team event with lunch for all and then the choice of a golf round, golf lesson or an early finish. The patriarchy lives on alas….clear discrimination and they should be called out on it and asked when the three remaining behind will get an equivalent opportunity….

there really shouldn't be a 'women''s outing. That's almost just as bad!

This will not happen. Seems like golf is the only activity giving billing for an afternoon out of the office

Then you should all join - it's work after all- sure, you may not enjoy it but that's not the point.

This ^
Feel like i work in a cave with men in loin cloths

Trust me, I saw a little 'clique' form at one of my workplaces. It poisons the entire team in the end. And you'll see who the next promotion goes to. It's really not ok. It's a power move on their part and not to be tolerated.

Sorry to hear. I think we've all had a trip or two to pre historic times...

What a shame none of you plays golf so you can see whether it is actual discrimination or just elitism.
One lady in our team is a brilliant golfer - she would be straight in there asking if she could join!

How do the other woman feel in the office?

This is terrible but doesn't surprise me.

If it was me, I'd announced that golf was clearly a lot of fun and had decided to start playing and so was going to join them on their next round.

I imagine their faces!

Book an afternoon jolly for the 3 remaining staff members. Won’t have a leg to stand on if they object. Oh and invite them to join you as you’re neither exclusive nor discriminatory. See how that goes down 👍

No that’s really not ok. What’s your team structure, does your manager have a manager? Is it a big company?