Do you put in for coworker's presents?

lulu_92

It seems that every week there's a birthday, baby or wedding announcement that is emailed to people asking to put money in for a present.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you always give or do you reserve it for the people you're closer to?

I've been in my job for a year(ish) and I work in an office of about 30-40 people, split into 5 departments. There's an entire corner of the office that I have never spoken to before. I think I've given three times, but they were all in my department and was about 2 or 3 months between each. I can't really afford to put in for every present, as much as I'd like to. (I put 40% of my monthly wage into savings, 50% goes on my share of household bills and I keep 10% for myself - I'm perfectly happy with this arrangement as I am saving for house/family/because I can), so maybe I've got it wrong?

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!

[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]

ellesbellesxxx

That's a lot of money to be putting in Lulu... if there is a wedding we do a whip around or if someone is ill... if there is a baby we throw them a baby shower where we put in what we like but definitely not birthdays. I would only buy a pressie for someone in my group of friends! I think that is way too much! XX

Summer69

I used to, until I realised how much I was spending.. I have 200 people in my office. With 1 birthday each plus leaving, baby presents etc it was well over £200 a year - and most of those people I didn't really know/like!

Now I only put money in for people in my own department or people I particularly like/have worked with a long time etc. Otherwise it just gets ridiculous.

Don't feel bad for not putting money in for everyone and don't feel pressured either

gettingtheresometime

Depends on who it is and whether I like them or not.

Even then its only about £2

BigAunty

I'm in a team of 20 that seem to be into birthdays so it's working out at one or two collections per month, plus the odd wedding, plus the odd charidee thing like raffle tickets. It's not too onerous, perhaps £5-10 a month as I'll put in a couple of quid for a birthday, fiver for a wedding. I'd rather they didn't have a whip round for me, so I hope they don't know my birthday.

I don't contribute towards departmental level stuff unless I know them and there's no pressure or expectation from those organising the collection or sending round the card.

At this place, team members buy lots of sweeties and cakes to pass round and other teams do it, too, the most I've ever witnessed. It's the most calorific job I've had.

I manage to hold off from temptation fortunately because many of the sweets aren't vegetarian and I won't ever eat sweets that aren't wrapped (because a high percentage of people don't wash their hands after going to the loo). Fortunately, the bulk of pound shop sweets are either Haribo type sweets or not individually wrapped, otherwise I'd be as fat as a house.

marisco_2

There are collections for when people leave. Everyone just puts in what they want to. A care fund has been set up whereby staff are asked to contribute £5 if they are full time or £2.50 if they are part time, to be able to afford to send a card and flowers when someone is going through an awful time. We do throw baby showers and each person that wants to go along just brings their own gift and card. On birthdays colleagues bring in lots of cake and biscuits to share.

Georgiegirl256

Working in a place that only had about 20-25 employees there weren't that many collections tbh. When there was it was usually only if someone was leaving or for a big birthday, and even then it was usually only a couple of pounds. A lot of collections stopped when some money we'd collected (for a colleague who'd just had a baby) went missing.

If I worked in a place with numerous departments and a lot more people, then I'd only put money in if I had actually spoken to and got on with a particular colleague.

Buzzybee90

I've only been asked retirement collections before (all the time!) but never put in as haven't known the person as yet. I'd only contribute if I was friendly with the person, but not for a birthday!

Mojisola

lulu_92 wrote: »

It seems that every week there's a birthday, baby or wedding announcement that is emailed to people asking to put money in for a present.

Do people really need a birthday present from their work colleagues?

Why not suggest that birthday presents are dropped and just a card is given and that collections are only taken up for the other things.

I'll bet there are plenty of others in your workplace who hate having to hand over money on such a regular basis.

ilikewatch

When I worked in an office with about 200 staff we each chipped in £25 annually - this was used to buy everyone a birthday card, presents for milestone birthdays, a bunch of flowers for anyone who went sick long term, and appropriate flowers or donation when anyone died in service, left or retired.

Snakey

I bet most people don't put in. Did you get a £200 present on your birthday?

Edit: I mixed up two different posters with this reply. But even so, the theory holds true. If there really is such a massive social pressure to put in even when it's somebody you don't know or like, then you ought to get back more or less what you put in. If you aren't, then you need to stop being so sensitive because the sense of expectation you're feeling can't possibly really be there (otherwise: where's the blacklist of all these selfish, tight people who aren't paying up?)!