Hanoi, August 24: Can a team-building event push an employee to quit their job? For Huynh Anh My, a college graduate in Vietnam, it did just that. Huynh, found herself resigning from her position as an intern after a company team-building event took a disturbing turn. During a beachside activity in Hanoi, Huynh was subjected to a drinking game where an older male colleague threatened that if she did not finish three glasses of alcohol, she would have to kiss him. The harassment left her feeling traumatised and ultimately led to her resignation.
As reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the troubling incident occurred last year during a mandatory team-building event at the company Huynh worked for. The event, held at a beach in Hanoi, initially included a water-carrying competition that left Huynh feeling exhausted under the scorching sun. The situation took a darker turn when an older male colleague, described by Huynh as "about the same age as my father" proposed a drinking game, threatening that failure to finish three glasses of alcohol would result in a kiss with him. Food Poisoning: Over 400 Hospitalised in Vietnam After Consuming Bread Sold by Local Eatery.
Huynh, deeply disturbed by the proposition, was coerced into drinking the alcohol as the colleague physically held her hand and insisted she comply. Her distress was compounded by the fear of further harassment, which led to an emotional breakdown. As reported by SCMP, Huynh was forced to endure the situation until she drank all three glasses, after which the colleague finally moved on to another participant. Afghanistan, Russia and Vietnam Named Most Dangerous for Journalists: Report.
The emotional trauma and lack of support from the company prompted Huynh to resign. SCMP reports that Huynh's resignation highlights the broader issue of workplace harassment, prompting significant backlash on social media. Many have condemned the incident as a blatant example of sexual harassment, calling for more respectful practices in team-building activities and workplace environments.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 24, 2024 08:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).