MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Would you put £10 in Kitty's birthday kitty?

kwikbreaks

I wouldn't cough up.

Plus I've never come across this idea before - most places I've worked the birthday boy or girl buys cakes.

essay_2

Do you think they would all be willing to contribute £10 if it was your birthday? I don't think so. £10 is far too much. Surely £1 each to buy chocolates for all to share is a nice way to acknowledge a birthday. I think to receive a card with individual comments is more important.

cjhazard

I've contributed to many of these "schemes" in the past and the most I've had in return is a flippin' card! So no, as a rule I absolutely do not contribute anymore. Especially if it's someone I don't know! It's like walking up to some random stranger in the street and asking them for £10 for your mate's birthday. They'd laugh in your face!
:rotfl:

Jezzabell

no, i wouldn't give that much for anyone's birthday apart from my family and very close friends, i don't mind chipping in 50p or a £1 here and there, but £10 is far too much and i would let them know that. The same way i always tell the people i work with that i do not send/pass out christmas cards to everyone in the office and i am happy not to receive any as i certainly won't be returning them as it's a waste of trees and money.

kevanf1

Surely the moral dilemna in this case should not be focused on you, the new employee but those going round collecting?

I haven't worked for a few years but we often had people come round asking for a donation for somebodies birthday or wedding orleaving present. The trouble is that half the time they worked in an office half a mile away on the campus (I worked at a university) and we had never even heard of them before let alone met them!!! I never felt any guilt in saying no.

Like others, if it was a special occasion for us we would take in cakes or a bottle of wine.

Oh, what's wrong with sending an e-card too? More environmentally friendly that way.

nesssie1702

When we have office collections, an envelope goes round and it's up to the individual if and what they contribute. Those contributing put their name on the envelope, so that they can sign the card when it comes round.

There's no pressure to put a specific amount in that way.

redstararnie76

Where I work, I'm in a small team - 7 of us, we get asked to put in around £2.50/£3 which I don't mind, however what I do object to, is that we are also then expected to pay to all go out for a meal - I struggle to afford to go out for a meal with my husband, let alone my work colleagues...

sandracarol

social currency is important, yet expensive. so................I just say....................

'I'd love to, but I'm a bit skint cos I haven't been paid yet. Can I put £5 in Kitty's Kitty instead? *big smile

look what a nice member of the team I am (at half price;))

chilli_cymru

A similar thing happened at work recently - there are only a few of us and I am the latest arrival but I have been there just over a year. Everyone else has been there for years - even decades! One of the staff is having their fortieth and we were all "invited" to contribute £35. The smaller the firm, the less able you are to really say no - so I have coughed up but it feels so excessive. I don't spend that on some of my friends and family!!!

janineo

We used to collect donations for birthdays in our office, but now we just sign a card, as it got a bit much, and the presents were fairly generic and boring anyway.
The birthday boy or girl will quite often bring cakes in though.

If it's a special birthday, or something like a wedding, we do put money in, but it's always up to us how much we put in.

Occasionally we get cards going round from people leaving from other offices in the building, but I only ever sign it if I know who they are.

So, no, I would not put £10 in. It's way too much, even if I did know them.