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    Employee criticizes corporate team building exercise, faces judgment from colleagues: 'It shouldn't be my responsibility to manage difficult personalities'

    Author image for Ally Perry
    Ally Perry • Editor at Memebase
    May 30, 2026 8:30 AM EDT

    Is it always appropriate to give your real opinion in the workplace?

    Being professional and telling the truth are not always synonymous with one another. There are plenty of instances when saying what you really think when you are on the clock could lead to some unwelcome ramifications. At the same time, there are also scenarios where a certain level of candor is going to be appreciated, or even necessary. 

    Ultimately, the level to which we should speak our minds in the workplace is a judgment call based on who we are around and what's happening. Many would argue that if you have something negative to say, it is never wise to share it with a colleague, as you do not know who they might share it with.

    The reality is that we probably shouldn't stay in jobs where we feel like we have to constantly bite our tongue. That is a sign that a role is not for you. Still, that doesn't necessarily mean that it is so terrible for us to keep our thoughts to ourselves from time to time. It can save us a lot of trouble that could have easily been avoided.

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    • A representation of a male employee making a complaint to coworkers in a meeting
      via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

      A representation of a male employee making a complaint to coworkers in a meeting

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    • In this story, a programmer was annoyed that his company had mandated that he and his colleagues attend a corporate team-building meeting. He decided to speak up and voice his feelings when the coach for the meeting began to teach them about dealing with difficult coworkers.

      He claimed that he had little need for this kind of training in the type of job that he had, and understood the need to be cooperative in the workplace without going through extra training. Although he felt his point was valid, his colleagues appeared to be unhappy with what he had said. They told him that a session like this was important, but he wasn't sure he agreed.

    • I disrupted a corporate "team-building" meeting by saying I’m only there to do my job. Am I wrong?

      I'm feeling really thrown off after confronting my boss and coworkers during a mandatory team-building session today.
      via shadewashere
    • The company hired a corporate coach to help us "improve both socially and professionally." Now, I am perfectly functional when it comes to the social aspects of my job. But at the end of the day, I'm a programmer-my social skills aren't supposed to be those of a project manager or a salesman.
      via shadewashere
    • At one point, the coach started teaching us techniques on how to deal with difficult coworkers. I ended up lighting a torch under the meeting by saying that while I obviously need to be cooperative and capable of working in a team, it shouldn't be my responsibility to manage difficult personalities on top of doing the actual job I'm paid for: programming.
      via shadewashere
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    • The entire team looked at me in absolute disbelief and completely disagreed with my take. Now I'm sitting here wondering if I'm just a massive ah le who refuses to deal with anyone's crop. They argued that these corporate coaching sessions are "beneficial" because they teach life skills, but honestly, I couldn't care less about socializing at work. I go there because I get paid.
      via shadewashere
    • Is this actually a hot take, or does anyone else here agree with me?
      via shadewashere
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    • A representation of a group of colleagues in a meeting listening to somebody speaking
      via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

      A representation of a group of colleagues in a meeting listening to somebody speaking

    • principium_est That's the kind of sh you say to coworkers when the boss is not around lol
      via principium_est
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    • JSC843 There is irony in being difficult when the topic is dealing with difficult coworkers.
      via JSC843
    • I get not wanting to do things beyond your scope, but your job includes a few things outside of "programming". Documentation, project planning, requirement discussions with stakeholders, are
      via JSC843
    • "programming" but you probably still do them because it is needed to do the programming itself. This is just one of those things with the purpose of enabling you to do your job. Might not be the most useful, but it's not worth making a stink about.
      via JSC843
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    • alloutofchewingum I think most people would: 1. Agree with you privately 2. Tell you that you nearly invented a brand new kind of stupid saying this out loud in a situation like that
      via alloutofchewinggum
    • Chronza You outed yourself as the exact difficult person their hypothetical was about. Like you couldn't pay me to fumble that hard on purpose.
      via Chronza
    • ANicePainter The meeting was apparently to help your coworkers work with people like you. So I guess you're right that it wasn't for you as you're the subject, not the audience.
      via ANicePainter
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    • TechinBellevue The people who need it most, IMHO, seem to be the ones who question it most - say they don't need it.
      via TechinBellevue
    • JustMajestic1 If you don't see the use in being able to deal with difficult coworkers...it probably means you are the difficult coworker.
      via JustMajestic1
    • justaguyonthebus These are important skills often overlooked by programmers. The job is as much managing expectations and communicating as it is writing code. At the more senior levels anyway.
      via justaguyonthebus

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