That's a great job! Trying to keep up morale is almost unheard of! You don't have to participate in everything, but those volunteer things and races are expected in jobs where you're looking for a career. Consider one or two causes you can get behind and place all of your enthusiasm in those. I'm inheritantly an introvert. I feel most rejuvenated when I'm alone or in small groups. But I'm also an activist. I love helping people and getting behind good causes so I go all in for a few causes and those runs. Then I collaspe at home for a couple of days to recharge.

Participating in these events pads your professional portfolio and makes you look more well-rounded. You may not like it, but reconsider the benefits in participating.

Hope this helps!

I worked for a big company that had a picnic in the summer almost every year. I was hesitant to go to the first one because I didn't know many people and felt uncomfortable around some that I did know, but it was close to home, (at a park right around the corner from where I lived). They gave us plenty of notice so it was easy to make sure my schedule didn't have any conflicts that weekend and I went. (It also included spouse and children). It was a goat roast and I had some reservations because I'd never eaten goat before, but I like meat and figured there would be other stuff to eat if I tried the goat and didn't like it. I made a lot of new friends that day and the goat was delicious. I wish they would have done that every year, but it just didn't work out that way. Another place I worked after that was a small company where the owner tried to promote teamwork and camaraderie. He'd host at least two events a year, one during the summer months and the other near Christmas. He hosted picnics at nice parks, as in along a popular lake or other very pleasant places, we went to nice restaurants, comedy clubs, amusement parks, a water park and once to an Aerosmith concert. I was usually reluctant because I had "better things to do" on those days or had to drive too far to get there. (I don't like to travel more than about 15 miles or 30 minutes for anything). I participated regularly though and always had a good time. (Spouses were always invited and children were quite often invited and the cost to me was nothing more than my time). It's hard to pass up a good time and we always had a good time. Whatever your excuses are, think them over and be honest with yourself. Would you have a good time? Is it something that others would truly enjoy? If those activities would have involved playing soccer, football, softball or anything similar I wouldn't have participated, but the agenda was always something that was relaxing and pleasurable for everyone. If the events are something that you couldn't or wouldn't enjoy, (such as sports activities are for me), you should feel free to opt out, and if asked why, explain honestly and perhaps other events will be adjusted accordingly. (In my case I would opt out of sports activities due to old injuries from a car crash that wasn't my fault). If you are able to participate and the events aren't too frequent, do yourself a favor and make an appearance. If the events are so frequent that they would interfere with your family life or other activities you may be involved in, (such as volunteering your time with a club, non-profit organization or some such other commitment), then feel free to opt out, but if the events are frequent you should be able to attend one occasionally. Also, talk to others who have attended the events and get their opinions. If you hear one negative response, don't let that be your only guiding factor, ask others and get a general consensus. You may not have to ask, pay attention to your co-workers the first workday after one of those events. If they are abuzz about what a good time they had, you'll know you missed out on something, if the prevailing buzz is that nobody had a good time, then you won't feel bad about missing it, and if that's the case and they ramp up the pressure for you to attend the next one it's time to try it for yourself or start looking for a different job. (But it does seem rather trivial to quit a job you like because of reluctance to participate in something that everyone else can manage to tolerate and maybe even enjoy). Who knows? You might be the one who could turn a dull event into a truly enjoyable experience for everyone.

Hey that's great that they do all the events most jobs don't give a shit. If you don't wanna go they can't make you unless your getting paid to do it. I'd give it a shot try to make it to 1 but don't blame you for not wanting to go.

Then quit! As a worker we agree to take on hats to support out job and career sure it's hard sure it's a lot sure it's "unfair" but it's work if you won't do it someone will. Want your own life and schedual then become your own boss! When we trade our time in for money this is to be expected. Life is not fair especially work life and I don't mean this to come down on you personally I see it all the time. And then when you are replaced with someone who not only will do your job and participate in the events they will do it cheaper and now you find yourself unemployed and crying over how it's not fair like some of the other people who post "its u fair" stuff daily and weekly! Either suck it up join in the events or not. But please stop crying about it and do not whine if you are overlooked for a promotion when it's given to someone less qualified who ATTENDED EVENTS.

Hi Penny: working for a corporate office or a big organization sometimes don't tell their recruits every detail about what is expected from their employees once they are hired.

Ever hear of O*Net? You can google it and see all the great careers there are in the world.

Sounds to me that you would be a great candidate to work from home on your computer.

There are small business grants (you don't pay back) that can help as a start up small business.

I dislike working with large businesses who take some of their employees for granted and want you to know that you are their "slave" and you better line up with their program "or else"

Before any of that happens. I would suggest you see what's out there, and talk to other small business ladies who could serve as mentors for you. You can also speak to IT and computer professors and see what they know. Ask a lot of questions; don't share any of this info with your current employees---they will talk about it and you...and, be quiet about it---then, once you find something more suitable, you can LEAVE.

Ever work for university computer departments who always need good people; you get time off and no weekends either. You can also take tuition free courses to earn more degrees or certifications in fields you love.

Ever say to yourself, "now what sort of work am I willing to get up in the early morning to drive to work, and be there all day long and listen to stupid gossip and complaining from others?"

Time is limited. You don't have time, and we all don't either to waste your life working in a place you feel lethargic about in the first place.

When you begin to see the flaws---take private action and take care of your needs. Family should always come first after God.

Good Blessings.

Yea, sounds like they may have some hidden agendas. Working together is great, but seeing too much of each other also brings out the worst in people.

The issue implied here is actually much-more complex than I initially realized. After further consideration, it seems that the issue’s essence can be reduced to the extent to which employers may reasonably insinuate themselves (if at all) into the private lives of their employees. Attendance at such events, even if only "encouraged" or "requested" (terms which in the subtly nuanced, encrypted vocabulary of today's corporations are synonymous with "mandatory"), represent an intrusion into employee's personal lives which, in my opinion, is simply going too far, particularly when the events are as frequent as Penny suggests. While I commend an organization that seeks to build team unity and employee vestment through extra-curricular activities, I don't think any organization has the right to demand employee participation. If a worker is doing his/her job to the satisfaction of management, then an organization should be happy, even if that person eschews extra-curricular company functions. Its rather a slippery slope for both management and employee once the former is allowed to cross the line into, and encroach upon, its employee's personal time. Where will the line be drawn between a company’s legitimate endeavors to imbue and reinforce corporate values/culture and the separation between an organization and its people? And who decides where that line is drawn? Management? Now, having said that, I’ve worked for companies that were at the opposite end of the team-building spectrum, meaning to say I’ve worked for companies that didn’t have extracurricular events at all. The multi-national telecomm for which I once worked, in the name of political correctness, had NO events, period. No Christmas parties, no New Year’s party, no birthday parties, nothing, during working hours or otherwise. Working for that company was nothing more than one long, tedious, relentless grind. So I would have welcomed the occasional, off-site, off-hours event. However, given the frequency of events at Penny’s company, I think it would get old pretty quickly. One thing to be aware of, Penny, is that minimal participation in your company’s events may have the unintended consequence of damaging your long-term career prospects. However, if you’re happy where you are and have no aspiration for future advancement, then by all means continue on as you have been doing. Nevertheless, be aware that office politics (and managers) being what they are, someone in your chain of command may take a dim view to your “lack of corporate spirit” and could put the screws to you, regardless of how good a job you are doing or how little you care about advancement. My advice is to continue as you have been: balance your personal life with your corporate personae by attending some events and passing on others, ensure that your managers know why you can’t attend all their events and be sure that they know how much you appreciate their team-building efforts (a little unctuousness never hurt anyone!).

team "bonding" or building should be done when the team is all together at work. that is what my supervisor did at a job that i had where that was important. unless they are going to pay you to be at these events, you have every right to not be there. i decline those things all the time for the simple reason that i don't really want to get too close to people i work with. it can come back to bite you in the ass.

I think it is great that you have management that is promoting "Team". So many jobs have cliques where the manager chooses not to get involved.

They bought you. They own you. You are not a human being you are a "human resource." For a few thousand dollars a year they feel they can command every second of your life. Based on that, for all the extra-work stuff they want you to do, tell them you are thrilled to do it, and will even consider doing it at the regular salary rate., but not for free any more than they would give away whatever "tech" stuff they create for free.