Work donation demands help ......

mountainofdebt

Regardless of your monetary situation I think to be TOLD how much you should put in is totally wrong and I would object to it out of sheer principle.

I've just joined a charity organisation where it seems every day a call on your cash was being made......have solved that one by saying I have no cash on me.

overbudget

No way should this sort of giving be compulsory! We have a fair turnover of staff and use the brown envelope anonymous donation system - it works really well. If someone is leaving who is close to you you can put in more - if it is someone you barely know (or won't miss! ) you can just not bother or put in a minimal amount. I tend only to contribute to people I work with - but then our department has about 500 staff so I would be donating every other day otherwise. I think everyone else does the same so it works out fairly - everyone who leaves gets something and the people who have been really important to lots of people tend to get more. I certainly wouldn't respond to compulsory "gifts" - nor would I want to receive such a gift" - makes a mockery of the whole thing!

lynsayjane

catriona79 wrote:

It is always hard to refuse to give to a charity. I am going to be giving when we are both working, because I think I should, but not just yet...

i think charity is the biggest example of peer pressure and bullying going. why should we feel like we have to? i was once stopped by a guy from oxfam on union st. he actually tried to block my way when i went past and asked mefor a small donation. i got incredibly angry and pointed out EXACTLY how much debt i am in and for what, then i asked if he felt i could spare enough for a small donation, he said no. :rolleyes:

Addicted2Chocolate

i agree should be voluntary and anon donation to the collection . But another thing to consider: if you cant afford or just dont really want to contribute, then dont, but please dont put in a few coppers. i have organised a few collections (wthout pressurising anyone) and cant believe how many people but in coppers, i then have to give the recipient coppers which is embarassing or take the out.

mcfisco

The solution to all this is to prohibit the organising of any of these sort of collections by female members of staff - most men would never bother given the chance.
8 of the blokes in our office refused to do 'secret Santa' last year [they wanted £10 pressies] we bought each other beer instead

Seriously though, the charity thing is out of hand at our place so now I just do the monthly donation from my salary to a basket of charities & politely decline to give any more

Felicity

Where my hubby used to work, they were not only bullied into giving a percentage of their salary to the companies chosen charity every month BUT ALSO, they were given a badge to wear on their lapel.

The colour of the badge showed everyone the percentage they were donating :eek:

Absolutely shocking behaviour.

The high profile owner of that company was up for a knight hood because of all the good work that HE did!

Glitterari

Well, we did secret santa at Xmas (no more than £5) then there's donations for birthdays, leaving dos, x many years of service, pregnancy and a while ago everyone wanted sponsorship for doing a run for charity! That cost me loads!

But the one that really took the pi$$ was when someone was moving house and we were asked to donate to that - yeah, right! I bet if I'd been moving house, as a new employee (less than a year) they wouldn't have given me anything! I didn't contribute to that one.

Molanole

lynsayjane wrote:

i was once stopped by a guy from oxfam on union st. he actually tried to block my way when i went past and asked mefor a small donation. i got incredibly angry and pointed out EXACTLY how much debt i am in and for what, then i asked if he felt i could spare enough for a small donation, he said no. :rolleyes:

Nice one!! :T I'm going to do that from now on. There are always loads of them on Tottenham Court Road and not a day goes by when I have to say no to them. Aside from the fact that I am just not solvent enough to contribute, I also don't feel comfortable in giving out my bank details to a complete stranger in the middle of Central London

Back to the thread though. Whoever suggested talking to HR was spot on. I think being forced to contribute, be it £1 or £5 is awful. Giving on gifts should always be discretionary and also anonymous so no-one person feels ostracised for not being able to afford it.

catriona79

Molanole wrote:

Nice one!! :Whoever suggested talking to HR was spot on.

hmmm trouble is WE are HR! :rotfl:

Queen.Bess

lynsayjane wrote:

i think charity is the biggest example of peer pressure and bullying going. why should we feel like we have to? i was once stopped by a guy from oxfam on union st. he actually tried to block my way when i went past and asked mefor a small donation. i got incredibly angry and pointed out EXACTLY how much debt i am in and for what, then i asked if he felt i could spare enough for a small donation, he said no. :rolleyes:

Good for you! I seem to have big problems with catalogue people. One chap was really rather forceful on wanting to give me a catalogue, so I was rather forceful back and told him they were an easy way to get into debt and I wasn't interested, I then walked quickly away! Grrrr! Why can't catalogue and charity people leave you during your lunchbreak to do your shopping in peace!