Collections at work

apesxx

McKneff wrote: »

Sorry but not contributing is very hurtful to the people involved if you have been working with them for a long time.

50p and a signature on a card (in our organisation no contribution, no signature) I have just lost a friend who didnt want to
contribute, plenty of money, no worries, she just said to the collector 'no thanks; her sig was not on the card, so of course I
knew and was very hurt and upset. I cannot understand why when we have been friends for so long. So like I say
50p can save an awful lot of heartache

Why on earth would you lose a friend that didnt put in your collection. Maybe she was not in work that week or has money problems that you didnt know about. A friend recently put some in a collection for me as i was off work at the time and i signed the card at the meal after she had opened it lol and gave the money back to my friend who paid it for me. I havent put in collections before sometimes (for baby etc) if i have bought my own gift for them already. To be honest if you are that shallow and can only think of the money and gifts then they are probably better off without you.

Angel84

I find it very embarrassing saying no all the time. Don't get me wrong, if i know someone really well or it's my immediate team mates then I will put money in. But the constant office collections for people I barely know I find a bit too much. And it's never just 50p. There's always a recommended amount. £2, £3, sometimes £5. I give to a charity through my wages every month but someone rattling a tin at me makes me feel so embarrassed saying no. The looks some people give you! _pale_
I'm really struggling at the moment and could do without it all.

Horace

Angel - don't ever feel embarrassed especially if the collection is for someone you barely know. Just say no - there is no shame in refusing.

McKneff

Horace wrote: »

Why lose a friendship because she refused to contribute to a collection? In some offices it can be a pain in the backside if collections are going around every day - I used to work in a dept which had 250 staff so someone was always leaving or having a birthday, we were told that the expected amount was £5, this end up being quite expensive.

Instead of being shallow, perhaps you should ask your friend to meet up for coffee or lunch. Remember, although someone may not appear to have money worries, they very often do. I know that if someone asked me, then right now I wouldnt be able to contribute anything because I just don'thave any spare money. Perhaps you should start thinking of friends as friends and not see pound signs above their heads!

Dont you dare accuse me of being shallow, it wasnt the money, and you dont know the circumstances, we had worked together for 8 years closely, only 3 of us in the office. They dont have money worries, Believe me I know. 50p would have entitled her to sign the card, Nobody these days is short of 50p. This site is supposed to be non judgemental, you've certainly broken that rule

Toni_Broke

Hi
We also have lots of collections at work, which i dont mind putting in for but what does annoy me is the 'specified' amount. I only work part time and it seems a bit unfair that i'm expected to put in the same amount as someone who earns alot more than me.
Toni xx

oldtractor

If I had to pay 50p to sign a card I would rather not sign the card.

AnnieG

You'd be surprised how many people actually are short of 50p these days, unfortunately.

gavinchappell

McKneff wrote: »

Dont you dare accuse me of being shallow, it wasnt the money, and you dont know the circumstances, we had worked together for 8 years closely, only 3 of us in the office. They dont have money worries, Believe me I know. 50p would have entitled her to sign the card, Nobody these days is short of 50p. This site is supposed to be non judgemental, you've certainly broken that rule

Honest opinion? I would say "Nobody these days is short of 50p" is just as judgmental. Regardless of whether someone has money worries or not they shouldn't feel "forced" to pay just to sign a card. I don't have money worries myself, but I still refuse to contribute to any collections at work on principle apart from an annual event that a colleague of mine from the same office does. Any other times I just say I don't have the money, or that I already give to charity (which I often do for friends outside of work when they have something planned).

For the record, I've worked where I work for 9 years, and only had about 2 birthday cards, signed by my colleague above and my manager, both of whom I would consider friends outside of work as well. No one else in my department knows when my birthday is, and I'm quite happy for it to stay that way, that's not what I go to work for.

BEAT_THE_DEBT

I have done collections in work and i always say "no preasure to give" and if they ask how much i say "its up to you anything is a gift" Corny but makes people feel ok to say no or give a small amount. If people say find me later i wont just in case they dont have it and i dont want to hound them xx

apesxx

McKneff wrote: »

Dont you dare accuse me of being shallow, it wasnt the money, and you dont know the circumstances, we had worked together for 8 years closely, only 3 of us in the office. They dont have money worries, Believe me I know. 50p would have entitled her to sign the card, Nobody these days is short of 50p. This site is supposed to be non judgemental, you've certainly broken that rule

I have worked in my place of work for 8 years, have had my 18th and 21st birthdays there and had 2 children. I have never recieved a collection pressie or card signed by everyone. Am I bothered? Not one bit! Do I put in collections for others that happen? Yeah if i can afford it! And nope I don't always have 50p spare either.