My boss wants to have a department meeting (20 people) where we all play a game where we tell three facts about ourselves, two false and one true. It makes me uncomfortable revealing stuff about me but also what I will hear about others. I would think it could easily become very awkward and hearing stuff I don’t want to hear and can’t unhear. I really don’t want to play. Can I just skip the meeting?
Rita Risser Chai Responds:
Clearly, this is an incredibly stupid idea from your boss. It has the potential to invade employees’ privacy or bring up issues related to disabilities, age, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and the list goes on. It could potentially be saved if the rules were that nothing personal could be shared—they have to be three facts about your job or your work. But I have a feeling that’s not what your boss wants. If people routinely skip meetings and it’s no big deal, by all means skip it. If it’s a mandatory meeting, then you need either to talk to your boss or HR. Perhaps if you have a straight talk with your boss about making it work related, they will agree to change the rules. Good luck.
Posted 02-22-2021
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