Link: https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/1votmsl/my_manager_scheduled_a_mandatory_fun_event_on_my/

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The original was posted on /r/antiwork by /u/heeeeriii on 2026-08-15 04:53:34+00:00.

I work at a midsize logistics company, nothing fancy, just a warehouse job. Last month our new regional manager decided we needed a "team bonding day" to boost morale after a rough quarter. Sounds harmless, right? Except she scheduled it on a Saturday, which is my actual day off, and made it clear in the group chat that "attendance is expected from everyone who wants to be seen as a team player."

No pay. No overtime. Not even a mention of covering gas money for the 40 minute drive to the venue she picked, which was some paintball place out of town.

I didn't go. I had plans with my kid that I wasn't about to cancel for something my employer wasn't even paying me for. Monday morning, I get called into her office. She's visibly annoyed, telling me my attitude was noticed and that this kind of thing reflects on my future here. I asked her directly if the event was paid. She dodged the question twice before finally admitting it wasn't, and said I should have made it work anyway because it shows commitment.

I told her commitment is showing up and doing my job well for 40 hours a week, not sacrificing my one day off for free to play paintball with people I already see five days a week.

She didn't have a response to that. Just told me to think about my priorities and sent me back to the floor.

The wildest part is two coworkers who also skipped it got similar comments. One of them has a second job on Saturdays to make rent. Apparently that doesn't count as a good enough excuse either.

I'm not looking for legal advice, just wanted to share because I think a lot of us are dealing with this same morale event nonsense that's really just unpaid labor with extra steps. If it's actually voluntary, pay us or stop pretending we're bad employees for not attending.