Work ethics is a fortnightly feature in Guardian Work where a reader submits a workplace dilemma and asks for your help. A selection of the best answers will appear in Saturday's paper. (And if you have a dilemma you'd like to share, anonymously, with our readers, please email us.)
This week's question
Are employees obliged to attend "awaydays" in the guise of boozy boat trips, making collages, dancing, playing musical instruments and so on? I love working with my colleagues, but I find events like these ghastly. Can I refuse to attend? Should I take a day's annual leave? What are my contractual obligations? My HR manager seems bemused by my not wanting to attend them and doesn't really have an answer.
What are your thoughts?
