Vietnam Woman Quits Internship After Colleague Dares Her To Kiss Him

A Vietnamese woman reportedly quit her internship in Hanoi after a devastating experience at a 'team-building' event. The woman, identified as Huynh Anh My, told a local Vietnamese media organisation about an older male colleague who forced her to play a "perverted" game, daring her to either drink copious amounts of alcohol or kiss him. The incident affected her so much that she felt anxious and terrified to face anyone at the office after the event.

Suggestive Jokes, Inappropriate Games: How Extracurricular Events Often Expose Male Employees' Sexism

South China Morning Post reported about the uncomfortable incident that happened with Huynh Anh My, pushing her to resign. The team-building trip to the seaside was supposed to be mandatory for all employees; bailing on it would result in penalties or extra work, she told a Vietnamese paper.

Huynh said that she and her colleagues were on the beach, competing in a game where they had to carry buckets of water from the sea to the sand. That was when she noticed, "One of my female colleagues sat to rest but was playfully pushed into the sea by a male colleague."

Huynh remarked, "I could not help but think, this is torture, not team-building." After that, several more unprofessional incidents happened. She said that her team leader suggested everyone play a drinking game when she had a humiliating experience with a male colleague. 

"A male colleague, about the same age as my father said if I did not finish three glasses of alcohol in one go, I had to kiss him," Huynh recalled. Then, another male colleague grabbed her by the hand and forced her to drink. She said she wondered why there were such "weird, perverted games". 

"I burst into tears because he kept getting close to my face and I was so scared. It wasn't until I managed to drink all three glasses that he finally stopped and moved on to another girl. After this, I was terrified and anxious for days, and I could not face anyone at the company. Eventually, I resigned."

Huynh's story has garnered attention on social media, with many demanding action against sexual harassment in the workplace. Many netizens reported facing similar situations during team-building trips, pointing out how such 'informal' events often expose the 'boys club' mentality in corporate.