It seems that every week now we have something scheduled. This group is having an office get - together or the entire office. The stress is ki----g me. They think everyone is an extrovert. Sorry, but take your team building to another locale, please.
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I left 3 months ago and have been invited to no less than 6 happy hours with my ex-team. I get an outrageous satisfaction by flat out not responding to thier invites. I despised hanging out with them when I worked there. Total no-go now that I'm gone!
I found that it doesn’t matter whether you attend. Some people never attend these functions and yet get promotions. Others like me tried to attend everything. I was the one that lost my job.
Only get together a my group has are going away drinks, we are averaging 1-2 people a week.
@1ofm+1hElQu6T And you sound like a large intestine. full of sh-t.
No interest in a promotion, so that's cool.
Worse thing they can do. It creates an "us vs them" situation within the same team.
@hxv+1hElQu6T decline at your peril. Unless you want to have others pass you by when positions open.
You can always decline, you are not forced to attend. From the ones I've seen coordinated they are not huge they are less than 20 people being invited. Be a grown up, you get paid enough to show up for 10mins to say hello.
@ctt+1hElQu6T Yeah, been there, done that. Big group that doesn’t get along much goes in and instantly separates by cliques. Senior Manager that planned the event completely aloof to it.
Complete waste of time and money. Bringing the “team” together was only for the picture at the end and even then there were clear “sides” with oblivious Sr Mgr sm--k in the middle.
Instead of eating together and talking non-sense, a much better approach is to divide people in groups and give them some sort of generic problem requiring only common sense to solve, like in an escape room setting.
This builds rapport much faster, deeper and in a more meaningful way.
This is just not just Wells. Having worked at a few different banking institutions, I can tell you it is elsewhere. Promotions more than anything else tend to be at stake here.
When I started working here a few decades ago it was a cake a week.
Forced socializing is simply work in a different venue. Instead of being judged on your work you’re judged on how much you contribute to the illusion of camaraderie.
Think of it as an unpleasant assignment, and while you’re there optimize your time by making sure you’re seen talking to the right people.
I know it sucks. I hate it too. But it’s part of life at Wells Fargo. Remember the purpose is to make your manager look good, remember you’re being watched, and smile, smile, smile.
If they say it is for team building you have to attend at least some of them. Higher ups do take note. Like it or not it will affect your rankings against others. Wrong, yes. Wells Fargo, yes.
Our team went on a team building lunch - company paid! I told them I had a meeting I could not move. It did it feel right going to a free lunch while layoffs are running rampant. Some of our own partners were let go in the last few rounds. I’m good with my brown bag at my desk, thanks.
@usc+1hElQu6T THAT is not supposed to happen. Didn't she hear of the word voluntary?
Forced fun… I hated it during my time at Wells Fargo. I was pressured by one manager so much to attend after hour functions she threatened (and later made good on the threats) to give me lower marks on my performance evaluation for not being a “team player.” Her ego was epic.
No, just no.
J havent met a coworker/team mate in person in over 12 years. No one is even in the same state.
The problem is the only people happy with RTO are the needy extroverts and men who want a break from the wife and kids.
Just make up an excuse if you don't want to go. Like - I have to meet my kids teacher during lunch time, or I'm meeting up with a friend, or I have scheduled a doctors appointment, or I need to go to the post office, or I have to run an errand for my wife, or I have to go home to check up on my dog/cat cause it was sick last night.