Avoiding Collections At Work!

Solwaykid

I go with the theory that if they know you well enough to ask you to contribute then they either already know you're a bit skint or you should be able to say so and contribute what you're able. I'm fortunate to work in a small company and we just have a tin that we can put in what we like (or don't as the case sometimes is). It's just madness to donate to stuff for people you barely know and greed to expect a gift from people you don't.
Be blunt. You'll not get asked too often that's for sure!

johanne

i had this at one my last jobs and was really struggling to fit in with the team as i had nothing in commom with them (one the oldest at 21!!! and the only one with a mortgage and NOT living at home with parents)... the supervisor particullary didnt like me and would always corner me infront of loads of people to ask for a contribution of at least £1 cos she new id be laughed at and sneered at for not coughing up.

Worst case was when i was off really sick for 4 weeks and come back and a new manager had been in the store for them weeks while i was off.... he was leaving the day i come back and i got roped in to putting in for his collection (by being called for everything for intially refusing) when id only worked in the store with him for wait for it.... 3 hours!

Incidentally when i left i got nothing, despite contributing to every other persons collections.....

I like the kitty idea, or an anonymous envelope so much better.

nodwah

Tell me about it, I've forked out £5 retiring and £2 flowers for someone having a baby and £2 for some one's get well soon flowers ( I'd already sent something privately) and that's just one week. we've had an awful lot of big birthdays lately - 30, 40 but at least we don't do every birthday.
I had a big fight with them all last year when we'd put in for a wedding present and then as I was going to the reception I was expected to put in again for another present. I absolutley refused and I was somewhat ostracised for a while.
The main organiser (enforcer) of these things is retiring soon so maybe it might dwindle away with any luck.
I have to say, tho it's against my own sex, that it's women who are the main culprits in my experience - the only thing that blokes organise is the grand national sweepstake - and I quite like that!!

ceridwen

With everyone on this one - these collections dont exactly work out evenly in various respects - which is one of the things that annoys me. Though I have worked for literally decades now I've been on the receiving end of very few collections - as I have never been off work seriously ill (touch wood!), never been pregnant, never married, never been promoted - but I keep getting asked to give money for people who do do all these things (admitted - the illnesses arent by choice obviously!). The only time I am expecting a collection for me is when I retire.

vij

I have put it quietly in an email to the collector and simply stated that I and a lot of other people are not in a position to put money into kittys of this nature, and that of course I wish the person well. It normally works. If you are having real trouble with this and you are in a business large enough state to your HR dept that you feel tht you are being harrassed by this pressure to contribute to endless collections if you note the collections in the past so many weeks/months and that you have been told to contribute £x rather than a donation of your choice if you wanted to this may also help. I also will make cakes for birthdays/leavings etc which not only is more economical but also something I enjoy contributing.

peachespeaches

I know what you mean. I was the only one with kids and working part time while the rest were full time with no kids, yet they still asked for me to put in to collections. When I left after 10 years I just got some jewelry I didnt like anyway and I dont think they had gone round the full department because I was only part time! If you say you cant go out because you are skint you end up being left out of other things. I had a fixed amount drawn from the bank each week for fares and sandwiches. I would have to go without lunches if I paid out on collections. Im so glad I dont work any more.

I think the loose change in desk is a good idea. Plus go on about how skint you are at other times when there isnt a collection in progress. They might take the hint. Otherwise ... you could keep going to the toilet when you hear the envelope coming. I think you should mention at your team meetings that the minimum charge idea is wrong. £3 is way too much.

Badger_Lady

It's so awkward when you get into an office with this culture.
My last office was constantly collections and cakes - bad for the pocket and the hips!

And the collections were always political as well - we had a wonderful boss so, for her 30th birthday, five of us put in a fiver each to get her a £25 worth of gifts (beautiful necklace and bamboo).

However, everyone in my next team obviously hated me and, when I left the company, my team of 35 got together and bought me £12.50 Argos vouchers. Ouch!

Thankfully, my new office has no expectations for gifts, going out etc, so it's pretty nice. But I do like the idea of a kitty - that way, you'd always have enough money to buy the appropriate gift and no pressure to spend the change - it'll go towards the next pressie!

GreenNinja

justin1972uk wrote: »

I'm going to have to think of counter-arguments in advance. What reasons did they give for rejecting the idea?

The irony of all this is, that the more low-paid the job, the more likely that the staff turnover will be high - equalling more cards and gifts!!!

I had to switch jobs last October as my employer of ten years relocated, so I just took the first job I could get. My wage is £3,500 a year less than it was, this time last year. Since I started, over 350 staff have walked out the door, never to return.

Hi Justin,

I sympathise with you, had to do something very similar myself.

It has taken me 4 years to get back up to the salary I was on at my job which I was made redundant from.

Lizzieanne

Where my husband works they have a great idea. They don't send any cards or gifts to anyone for any reason at all - not even cards at Christmas. An envelope goes around, people contribute however much they want if they wantand the contents go to a local charity.

freyasmum

Hiya... do what I do and work for yourself - if you want a leaving present, you need to buy it yourself... bummer. Just kidding.

I never put into collections when I am told minimum amount. I don't think it's fair. It annoys me. It also annoys me when people in the streets rattle money tins in your face and then, if you are going to put something in, they tell you it has to be a minimum of whatever - I tell them thanks, but no thanks and they have just lost a donation. It angers me when people tell me what I have to contribute (especially if I do not know the person who is to receive the gift).

I agree with the others, bring it up at the next meeting. Lots of people are probably thinking the same but don't want to say anything.

Lx