A health product company based in Kuching, Sarawak, recently went viral for one of its teambuilding activities – an ice bath challenge.
To complete the challenge, employees are required to soak in icy cold water for 10 minutes.
The ice bath challenge was done as a motivation and a reminder to the employees that despite the challenges ahead in their careers, they have what it takes to make it. In the viral video, a group of employees stepped into a huge bucket of ice water, and as a way to endure the freezing temperature of the water, they chanted,
“I’m not afraid of the pain, I’m not afraid of the hardships! I must be myself, and break through myself!”
In the Facebook post, the employee also said that they were concerned about another employee, who shivered during the challenge with her lips turning purple.
“I was afraid that she wouldn’t make it. But I just want her to know that if you get tired in the journey of your career, take a break and relax.”
After completing the challenge, she was unable to stand up, and her whole body went limp. Seeing this, her colleague beside her carried her out. Her condition improved moments later.
The comment sections were filled with criticisms against the ice bath challenge, with many pointing out the dangers. The employee then highlighted that the ice bath challenge was carried out under the guidance of a doctor, and told haters not to say anything if they disagreed with the activity of the team building.
“Why do we get criticised? Is it because we’re merely a small & medium enterprise (SME)?”
Not long after the video circulated with criticisms, the founder of the company broke the silence and responded to the online condemnation, saying that they are nowhere near a “cult”, as some netizens had perceived.
In her Facebook post, the woman said that not only was the ice bath challenge conducted under the supervision of a professional, but many celebrities had done the same in the past.
“Why didn’t the celebrity get criticised? Did you condemn us just because we’re an SME that you said was a cult?”
“We’re not a cult, we’re just a group of women who work hard for our dreams. You can laugh at us and criticise all you want, but we will keep working hard for our dreams.”
She continued and explained that they are not proving anything to anyone, but merely themselves.
What do you think of an ice bath challenge during team building?
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