How can I tell my boss I don’t care about team building events?
Hi all, my boss attempts to do Sunday morning self-care days and usually no one signs up. He is a Gen Z boss and genuinely well meaning.
I just wish someone would tell him no, we aren’t interested in coming in on our day off. He tries to do one every month and every month he asks and I just say “no.”
Is there a tactful way to bring his attention to how tone deaf these self care days are? (Even if they are supposed to be for “health care?” We are social workers so self care is on brand, but we don’t want to come into the office conference room on our day off to do these weird activities and things with our coworkers)
If you think that is too risky to bring up to a boss, what is a respectful way I can tell him this month that I appreciate him trying to do this event, but I will just never do weekend events?
Netizens’ comments
- Just approach your boss and tell him very kindly, “Sir, I appreciate your motives and understand that you care for our well-being. But I am sincerely unable to give a f- about it to come on my off day.”
- You said it yourself
“I appreciate that you try to do this event but no one is participating because its their day off” - This weekend event conflicts with my responsibilities at home. Thank you for the concern for well being and for your understanding
- On the one hand, it’s nice they show concern about your well-being. On the other, these team-building events should not be on employees’ off days.
It’s fair to mention that you have obligations on the weekend (even if it’s just sleeping in or hanging around the house with your spouse) that keep you from attending Sunday “team-building” events. And if the rest of the staff is on board with you, why not mention that people don’t want to think about work on their days off.
Would you be willing to do a team building event after the work day is over? That might be a fair compromise. - He might be genuinely well-meaning but I’ll tell you what: he’s got some fucking cheek on him. Sunday morning? Give over. You’ve got plans. You’ve got things to do, things to watch, things to play, places to go, friends to see. You know, things you can’t do during the week because you’re working.