Principal making me have lunch with the team?

Question

My principal is making me have lunch with the team everyday. Is this appropriate?
Most of the time I work straight through lunch or I just want some piece and quiet. Also, there is one teacher that takes over the conversations at lunch making negative comments and constantly complaining. I can't afford that negativity.

Sorry, I am a teacher not a student.

Answer 1

Are you a teacher or a student?

Thanks for the clarification. Maybe the principal is trying to establish cohesiveness within the team. If so, then an authority figure (you) may be seen as helpful to that cause.
As to the other teacher with the negative comments, maybe you should pull that teacher aside and explain that their negative remarks are inappropriate around the students. If it keeps up, say something more direct right in front of the students, something that gives you the high road. You might also tell the principal of this problem.

Answer 2

Even if you are a salaried employee, your lunch time is your own. check the local labour laws, as I don't know where you are from. It might even come under the heading of "cruel and unusual punishment",if because of your job you feel that you have to and I was in a similar situation although not in a staff room, until I could stand it no more and I said out loud so that everyone could hear "If it's so bad here, why don't you leave" the loudmouth hardly said a word after that and the amount of thanks that I got was incredible. Who is the principal trying to fool, himself, the Board or the staff about having a team, you can't have a team of one.

Answer 3

Yes actually because you are a salaried employee it can indeed be required. Either get a new job or suck it up.

Answer 4

What team? Cheerleaders, football, glee, what???

Answer 5

Do you have to join it, or can you avoid it?
well, if you really hate it, I would try not to join it!