The Away Day –“Teamwork in Action”

A morning in late July at the Oak Forest Hotel and Country Club, somewhere in Nottinghamshire.  Everyone from LB Law (less a skeleton staff back in Leighton Buzzard) are on a team bonding day.

“Call this summer?” said Sue to no one in particular, “It’s cold and I’m cold and I don’t care how many times someone tells me this will be “a fun day”, I know I’d rather be at home, doing what I want to do!”

“Well aren’t you just a bundle of positive energy” responded Damian, one of the no ones in particular.  “Hey, it’s Friday you’re not at work, you are at a pretty smart hotel paid for by the firm and it might just be fun if you give it a go.” 

“Only a man could possibly suggest that standing around in a field getting shouted at by some jumped up, muscle bound, would be, SOS paratrooper could be regarded as “fun”.  What the hell were they thinking!”  She thrust her head in the direction of the hotel where the partners were still in a meeting.

“I think you’ll find it’s the SAS and no one has shouted at anyone yet”.  And risking all, Damian continued “And isn’t it just the tiniest bit sexist to talk about “only a man”?" He looked round for support but only met a series of averted eyes and ears.

The debate about the merits of the Away Day had been protracted and at times emotional. “We’re a group of legal professionals, not a rugby team for heaven’s sake!” …. “But in the survey our clients said that what they wanted was team work and a joined up approach” …. “But why does it have to be all macho, outward bound, Duke of Edinburgh revisited?” ….. “Because we want to put people in a different environment, outside their usual office comfort zone” …. “What’s so wrong with being in our comfort zone!”.  And so on.  But the decision had been made (“As a one-off, we can review it.”) and here they were, about to emabark on a series of team work activities.. 

With different degrees of enthusiasm, the partners got up from the table in the meeting room inside the hotel and prepared to join the rest of the firm outside.

It started raining.

Have your say

What do you think of this type of away day event?

What’s your experience of “Away Days”, out of office activities and the like?  Is it a "boy/girl" thing or is that too simplistic/sexist?

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