Events at work you don't really want to do but kind of have to...

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

Seems like there's always something going on at the call center that management is excited about:

- We're supporting Charity X this month
- We're suppporting Charity Y next month
- We're supporting the fight against cancer this summer
- We're supposed to wear green for Earth Day
- We're supposed to wear red for Veterans

Then there's the events:

- We do Beach Days and Pajama Days and Casual Days
- We do karaoke parties and dance parties and ice cream parties
- We have decorating contests for July 4th, Halloween and Christmas
- We have 70s days and 80s days and 90s days

And on and on.

Now there are a few of these events I enjoy and some causes I really support, but a lot of the time I'm rather indifferent. I'll play along though because I know even though they're not really supposed to that management looks down their noses somewhat at those who refuse to participate in any of these "extracurricular" activites.

I get it makes sense to try and make work "fun" but sometimes they take it beyond fun to somewhere between "mildly annoying" and "extremely grating".

And of course, there's always, ALWAYS that one CW who wonders why you aren't going all out for whatever thing it is we're doing THIS week!

Maybe it's because I don't have any 70s clothes, maybe it's because I don't have extra money to spend on decorations (You think <red checkmark> would provide them? HA!) or maybe it's because I don't particularly care about what's going on at the moment.

But whatever it is, it's no ones damn business but mine!

Just the same, I try to participate where and when I can because I want to maintain my reputation as a "team player" and keep my chances at promotion as high as they can possibly be. I don't like it, but if I HAVE to play the game, I might as well make some kind of effort.

[MoonCat]

Hmmm, 70's clothes, wait, lemme check my closet....

Nope, since we moved I don't have any of that stuff anymore! Ha, once years ago for Halloween at work I dressed up as a hippie....I didn't have to buy a thing. I wore jeans, sandals, some kind of wild colorful printed top, and a fake fur vest that I'd had since high school (and it still fit omg), plus a beaded headband that I borrowed from my sister. I love it when I can put together a costume from stuff I already own.

[Food Lady]

Good grief, is it a job or high school?

[KuariKaydrith]

Sounds pretty typical of most call center environments I've worked in. I only participated in the ones I wanted to, but there were always those who participated in absolutely everything they could. It would drive me nuts with how excited these people would get. And it was even worse on those days where there was some sort of activity planned because they would never remain at their desk because they were either participating in several things or wanted to watch. Never mind that the call volume was through the rough while they did this utter fuckery, and when spoken to about it they would get all huffy and puffy because they were 'just trying to have fun!' Yeah, at the expense of the rest of us -_-

I honestly didn't care if not participating meant that I was less likely to get any sort of promotion. If my work couldn't speak for itself then fuck it all.

[Rosco the Iroc]

In the military we call those "mandatory fun days"

[csquared]

We are having a similar battle at work. The Boss wants to do "something fun" as a reward/team building/morale boost/something type event. The problem is getting everyone to agree on something. And to make it really difficult, there are a handful of people whose idea of fun is "not being with coworkers".

[Catwoman2965]

We are having a similar battle at work. The Boss wants to do "something fun" as a reward/team building/morale boost/something type event. The problem is getting everyone to agree on something. And to make it really difficult, there are a handful of people whose idea of fun is "not being with coworkers".

This. My company, who suffers from the "that's the way we've always done things" mentality, has department outings. Which have ranged from pretty fun, to decent to WTF were you thinking?????? So my individual dept is 4 people. My director, who is a blithering idiot, my bosses' boss who is an abrasive, lazy beyotch, and my boss, who has no personality or sense of humor and me. We report under this one VP with about 3-4 other depts. So our outings are usually all of the groups.

Previously, we had also done a smaller, just our group outing, which is excruciatingly painful, not fun, and usually convenient for our director, since he at one point had a summer house at the beach, but now lives there year round. So we'd have to drive 65 miles EACH way, do whatever, which w as an all day thing. And I really honestly, do not want to spend any more time than i ahve to with any of those three.

So the abrasive beyotch is one of those who thinks we MUST do our own outing, it iwll be fun, and when met with resistance, tells us we are no fun. I am not shy about opening my mouth, so I finally said no, let's not do on, they aren't fun, and we also can't agree on waht to do. Let's just continue with VP and ALL her groups as its more fun with more people.

I think finally she got the mesage after me bluntness. But she's also one who won't take no for an answer.

[April]

I do not like work events. I don't participate in the ugly sweater contests, I don't do the chili cook off's, the costume contests, etc. Its not my thing, and it's always the same group of super out-going, love the spot light people who plan it and participate in it.

If I planned my own fun work events it would be "read quietly for an hour, while enjoying snacks" or "Here. watch this Disney movie"

[Crai]

Anyone else draw the correlation between Most interested in doing mandatory fun crap and Most Annoying person in the office? I find the more into this crap they are the more annoying they become. Honestly if you appreciate your employees then give them a raise or a paid day off, Don't make them spend money, gas, unpaid time, and tell them they enjoyed it.

[Becks]

Good grief, is it a job or high school?

My thoughts exactly.

[Dreamstalker]

We don't have any organized events except for the usual "bug everyone for money to support X" (not even sure that can be called an event).

The "locked room team escape" thing could be highly entertaining if it was only the management staff thrown in together, we'd get to see who has a brain and what everyone's real people-herding style is (probably confirm a number of suspicions about D).

[Trixie]

I'm glad we don't have any team building events. I don't like my coworkers enough to try to help them succeed. We can usually get dressed up for Halloween and during Christmas. And every couple of year we can wear garb from out local NFL team.

I'm sure I'd get tired of it if there was something going on all the time. Though I could get used to wear your pajamas to work days. And anything that would require me to travel with my own money? Forget it.

[Aria]

Sounds pretty typical of most call center environments I've worked in. I only participated in the ones I wanted to, but there were always those who participated in absolutely everything they could. It would drive me nuts with how excited these people would get. And it was even worse on those days where there was some sort of activity planned because they would never remain at their desk because they were either participating in several things or wanted to watch. Never mind that the call volume was through the rough while they did this utter fuckery, and when spoken to about it they would get all huffy and puffy because they were 'just trying to have fun!' Yeah, at the expense of the rest of us -_-

I honestly didn't care if not participating meant that I was less likely to get any sort of promotion. If my work couldn't speak for itself then fuck it all.

I work from home but I promise, not all call centre jobs are like that. Our 'events' are usually a potluck once in a while, sometimes a bake sale and often a bit of holiday stuff. Participation tends to be minimal. And no one is allowed to go to the potluck unless they're on break.

[RealUnimportant]

I thought it was bad that my lot are trying to get company-themed hashtags during "holidays" - I use the term loosely as V-Day isn't a holiday but we had one for that, and one for Easter, and one for the London Marathon. We were also "issued" with candy for V-Day and Easter, but I refused point-blank to hand any out for V-Day, and they'd all been eaten before I even came on duty for Easter, and I was the only one working at my site that day so that was trebly annoying!

[Shyla]

Fun with coworkers. Yuck. And having to participate to be a team player. Double yuck.