Forced "fun" in the workplace

StupidLikeAFox

On the other side of it, I once worked for a manager who organised a Christmas event around the Thursday before we finished up.

• 2pm meeting,
• some cake, bit of a chat,
• Few thank yous for the year
• raffle for a few silly prizes, selection box etc.
• Table quiz where the winner got a day off work.
• Early finish when it was over 3/3.30pm

No pressure, no fuss, no bolloxology. The way it should be

almostover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959176#Comment_119959176

Being paid to eat free turkey and ham is kosher in my books.

SAMTALK

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959547#Comment_119959547

That's it. it's a job , a way to earn money and pay bills.

If some people want to socialize after work that's fine but don't expect everyone to feel the same way

To be honest I'm looking forward to a break from them all and hope not to lay eyes on any of them over the holidays

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959491#Comment_119959491

Employers can't win though, because if they didn't put on a party, there would be a lot more people moaning that the stingy baxtards won't even give us a meal and a glass of wine...

Just don't go. Problem solved. I can assure you that no-one will miss you.

Feisar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959737#Comment_119959737

Pretty sure it's not!

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959775#Comment_119959775

Couldn't give a crap about any parties. Has my pay improved...nope. add a bit extra every month and I'll not whine about forgoing crap food and cheap plonk.

SAMTALK

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959775#Comment_119959775

i didnt say they shouldnt put on a party .

If you reference the title of thread it says "forced" fun in the workplace

shesty

My manager takes his team out for lunch for Christmas, during the year the odd time (not over covid obviously).We all live in different parts of the country so there is effort for us all to manage that, and that is plenty for us all too.Quite happy with the arrangement!The office organise various events but I tend to opt out.I haven't time outside work to be doing work things, Zoom CPD events outside working hours are tough to manage never mind anything else. And I am ok with that.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959491#Comment_119959491

If you don't like the way that a company treat people, then leave and find a job that treats people the way you want to be treated. You'll be a happy wage-worker, hopefully for a long time.

However some people clearly do like company networking events. And some companies do want to get to know their people, to suss out who is promotable, and who isn't. Nothing wrong with that.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959782#Comment_119959782

They're two separate issues though.

If your employer doesn't think you deserve a raise, then cancelling the Christmas party won't change that. Do a better job, get more money.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959820#Comment_119959820

How on earth did they manage to do that before the advent of organised fcukery?

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959820#Comment_119959820

Rubbish. You get promoted on ability and your managers can rely on you.

I'm too long in the tooth to care when people see me drinking.

Networking doesn't involve skulling pints.

Gregor Samsa

.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959631#Comment_119959631

You’d still have moaners moaning.

• 2pm? I don’t finish my lunch until 2:05!
• Ugh, cake! Seriously? Is there gluten in this?
• Why is he thanking these people? They’re just doing their jobs! How come I don’t get thanked? I turn up and do the bare minimum required.
• Oh god! A raffle with silly prizes no-one wants. The worst! And I never win.
• Table quiz! Table torture, more like. I’m not paid to answer stupid questions.
• Why couldn’t he have done this at 9, then we could have gone at 10:30 !

No good deed ever goes unpunished.

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959823#Comment_119959823

Simple is it?

That's why I have left jobs and they have offered to match it+ too late.

SAMTALK

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959820#Comment_119959820

Now you're just reading things that I didnt write.

Where did I say I didnt like they way my company treated people. What I said was I go to work for X hours for X pay and I dont want to be "forced" to socialize with people I wouldnt normally socialize with

maybe go back and reference the title again !

Forced !!!! I have no problem with events for anyone that wants to go them but you should not be obliged to go

GavPJ

I'd rather **** in my hands and clap than go socialising with some of the imbeciles I work with.

Since Covid and the cancelling of Christmas parties/night away I get €2,000 in my hand, I much

prefer that.

Tony EH

Always enjoyed the Christmas party. Free drinks and food on the company. Damn right. I even like going to the Mrs.' one as well.

Helps if you can actually make and effort to get on with people.

But, yeah, forced fun like sports days...um...no. Thankfully, I never had to do that nonsense.

Mister Vain

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959775#Comment_119959775

They may not miss you but they can sure as hell give you a hard time over it, both before and after the party.

Sardonicat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959820#Comment_119959820

Everything wrong with that. Your performance At Work should provide all the detail they need to know if you are promotable. What the hell will a social event tell them that they don't already know? Why should you need to network at a social event for your own company? It's not a genuine social event, then, is it? It's to find the other sad sacks who live for their jobs and don't have a work/life balance, largely because they don't have an actual life outside work.

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959542#Comment_119959542

Think it was that nice hotel in the shopping centre. Thankfully I got out of it due to a family emergency. But it was pretty much “compulsory” to attend. Control freaks in hindsight but I needed the job at the time

Christmas party isn't really what I'm talking about - it's more the "fun" activities in the office... and even then, if it's optional to take part, what of it.

When people are obliged to take part though, or it could be a black mark against them if they don't... this is quite disturbing, and not an established thing. I think it's only creeping in in the last ten years or so, and continuing to do so. The toxic positivity of LinkedIn seems to be the same thing in social media form.

mariaalice

A very long time ago in another universe, my husband worked for a construction company in London, the plebs were mostly Irish, at Christmas, the foreman of the plebs was given a wad of money and they all went drinking, the engineers and management went for a posh dinner with a free bar.

Years ago I went to a Christman do which consisted of cold meat, salad, and a bread roll however there was also a load of free booze which consisted of cans and bottles of wine everyone ended up bringing the cans and wine home with them actually a very good night out.

Every work Christmas night out has been great no matter what it was but I have been to some very strange team-building days so yeah they are mostly nonsense.

forced work socialising sounds horrific.

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119959780#Comment_119959780

yeah i wouldnt really describe anything to do with christmas as kosher to be honest

Count Dracula

I would rather have the option of having fun. They have to keep the animals happy and productive. The concept is that you will work in happier more productive environments, that's the plan.

You have to remember that in Ireland we are spoilt rotten with options of having fun, we legalised alcohol abuse and use it to fund the state. Most of these "have fun" work environments intend to make you a happier bunny, very clean and North American.

Cynically you could argue it is used as a control mechanism, I would say it is a result of some Harvard or Yale drivel dreamt up by post graduate social scientists who declared it worthwhile? You have to remember how lonely the US is. It has shocking community values, Yanks don't socialise like we do here. Workers often will consider their working environment as a part of their community, they spend their lives there. In many cases they won't have a life outside of their jobs, it happens.

Just make sure your social prerogative is not being compromised by having to dress up like a tit. It they make you dress up make sure the chunts pay for the costume as well.

Don't be a drag either, having a quiz in the canteen 4 times a year dressed in a Batman costume is not the end of the world.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058274436/forced-fun-in-the-workplace

Sounds like you worked in a sh*t place. Most places aren't like that.

mariaalice

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119961515#Comment_119961515

you are correct it's not going to kill anyone to take part in a quiz, charity partner thing, or some corporate helping-out day, my daughter could pick what they wanted to do to give back to the community she went to a dogs charity for the day and had a great time as she loves dogs but I still think it doesn't sit well with Irish people we haven't got the psyche and culture for it, getting into a rage about it is a bit silly though.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119961592#Comment_119961592

For sure, but it's a culture that seems to be creeping in.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119961630#Comment_119961630

Is someone here in a rage about it? I don't think anyone takes particular issue with your examples. They're not what would be described as forced. It's the activities which are used to "evaluate" staff that are specifically what I mean - like in the article I linked to.

Is it though? Seems more like a social media thing for complaining. Most people I know just get on with work and what not without all that stuff. Depends where you work, I guess.

mariaalice

I know with the corporate help the community thing, in one company the employees more or less had to do it, it was very frowned upon to say no so it was a very subtle way of evaluating someone.