A vent.
My global dept does two big week long team trips a year. The next one (and my first one) was just announced. And I’m annoyed at the culture of it.
If I were 23 and without kids, I’d JUMP ON IT. In fact, when I was in my early 20’s, my company at the time did team trips and I’d go and have a blast.
Now I have kids who I 1. Don’t want to leave and 2. Can’t leave without making serious sacrifices (my husband would have to take off work entirely during that time and he has a disability that makes it unsafe for him watch the kids alone at night. We’d likely have to hire help for that timeframe or rely on grands to fill the gaps. I also breastfeed). But work of course doesn’t consider that people have lives and are integral parts of their family’s daily lives.
It’s very annoying that I’m expected to excitedly jump on a plane and be present for this planning session and added team bonding shit like hiking, happy hour, local tours…. Without acknowledgment that going is a huge logistical and emotional disruption to my family, that the 5pm-9am hours of my life belong to me and should be compensated for (not in free dinners and escape room events with my coworkers!), and that I don’t WANT to go on the trip and sacrifice my spare time/routines/comfort. Going would be a favor to work, not a reward to me.
My work is very “accepting” of people not wanting to go. But I am the only one who will not be attending out of 20. The male who has a 5 month old will be there (and I’m sure no one will acknowledge that his wife will be solo parenting that entire time). The female who has a 1 year old will be there (again with no regard for the child who will miss their mom and the dad who will be solo parenting). I will not be there. I was told by the female that I should think about going as these trips have helped her career via bonding to coworkers and wants me to experience that same value. I personally would like to experience the value of staying home.