Working here sounds exhausting. If you shipped me off to the woods and told me that my job depended on playing along with team-building and round-table compliment sessions (there is an apt descriptor for this that I will not use here) I would probably give in and play along but I would not feel a sense of culture. I am guessing that people think “If this is the price for being allowed to come to work in a T-shirt, whatever” but I will admit to being more opposed to forced socializing than most.
Agreed. I couldn't help but groan while reading through this post. I enjoy the company of my co-workers but would not appreciate having to spend 5 days with them in a rental house away from my family and comforts of home.
I get the idea of having a team vacation or group outing, but mixing in workshops, forced cross team "collaboration" exercises, "role playing", and lectures on "thinking big" would absolutely just kill my morale.
Sure, company culture is important, but if it's built like this you can count me out.