General Etiquette > All In A Day's Work

Forced giving -- UPDATE #36

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Danismom:
First let me say that I don't think this is egregious enough to go to HR. it just struck me completely wrong this morning. I will probably just bring something small. I would generally like to support the Ronald McDonald house generously. Doing less because it's an order makes me feel petty but right now our finances are pretty tight.

So that being said, our dept has a half day "retreat" each quarter to discuss goals, strategies, and information. Essentially it is a half day dept meeting. Our quarterly meeting this month is on Thursday. Boss sent a letter to all members of our dept this morning with information about the mtg (what to bring, some agenda previews, etc). The last thing on the list of items is:

6) Finally, we will be "pounding" our great Ronald McDonald house. Please being one or more of the items from this list which you would enjoy giving:
Toilet paper
Kleenex
"Forever" postage stamps
Copy machine paper
Windex window cleaner
New or gently used movies

And the list goes on

There is no precedent for this in our group. There has also been no discussion about it that would make it a team project. Essentially this is an idea or boss came up with and we've had no opportunity to decide IF we want to participate or not.

VltGrantham:
I feel your pain because I don't like the forced giving either--whether it's blue jeans for babies, spare change for the children's hospital or soldiers groups.  I hate to say it, but I prefer to give when it's of my choosing to give and often when I can get a receipt for tax purposes.

If you don't participate you're labeled as cheap and not being a team player.  If you do, you resent it because it wasn't your choice to give.

Personally I think I would take the list of items and compare it to this week's sale papers.  Find one or two that you can purchase on sale and stick to a limit - $10, 15, 20 or even 5.  If things are really tight around the house, select a couple of movies from your collection and take from your own stash, then cut back accordingly.  We also have a stash of items like toilet paper, kleenex, etc., we could give from.

Kaypeep:
I see what you mean.  Requests like this are annoying because they aren't asking for a lot, but the obligatory nature of it makes it seem like a demand and really takes the joy out of giving.  I'd donate some old movies, books or whatever, maybe a package of TP or whatever other inexpensive thing is on the list, if only because I  usually have these things to spare and it's a chance to declutter my house bit and give without breaking the bank.   Since this is the first time they are making the request, I'd wait and see how it goes afterwards.  Right now this is a request and not explicitly a requirement.  So if management isn't checking off who gave and who didn't, then if they do it again I wouldn't feel as pressured to give something next time.

weeblewobble:
I can see why you're annoyed because I don't like to be "voluntold" either.  But I will warn you that for some employers, 100% participation is more important than cheerful giving. 

At my first job, we had a company wide fundraising drive for a local charity. The administration was very focused on being able to claim 100% employee participation, and the department heads pressured us to donate even a small amount. I didn't have a problem with the charity, but one gentleman in particular, didn't agree with their policies and didn't want to support it and refused all pleas from the administration to donate.  So the administration donated in his name, circumventing his wishes and gaining their precious 100 percent rating, which left a sour taste in our mouths.

so basically, as irritating as it is, I would buy a package of TP and be done with it.

camlan:
I would be unhappy about this. I do all my charitable giving in January--write out the checks, send them and forget about it for the year, except for buying Girl Scout cookies from my niece. The budget is what it is, and I don't want to give any more than that.

This is also kind of short notice. The notice goes out on Monday, leaving employees three nights to go out shopping for these things--nights that they might not have planned to go to a store, nights when they might have plans that preclude getting to a store. I do all my shopping on weekends, so that I don't have to run errands after work and can go straight home or to class. This would mess up my schedule for the week because I would have to make a special trip for just one item and I'd lose my free time for the evening.

I have a small apartment with limited storage space. I don't buy replacements until I will need them in the next week or so, so I don't have spare TP lying around. The only copy paper I have is the open pack for my printer. Don't use Windex or tissues. The only book of stamps I have is partly used and I need them to mail the rent check. Don't have any movies I want to get rid of, and few that are kid-friendly to begin with.

All of which is to say that this demand would be a big hassle for me. And it means lugging one more thing to work. I'm trying to reduce the stuff I carry around on a daily basis. And for anyone using public transportation, carrying more stuff is, again, a big hassle.

How I'd handle this depends on how well I know the department head. If I knew him well and was on a friendly basis with him, I'd stop by his office and ask about it--"So, what's up with the charity thing? Is this something new coming down from headquarters?" If I didn't know him well, I'd speak up during the meeting. "This quarter, we were asked to bring a charitable donation. Is this something that we will be doing every quarter going forward? If so, can we get more notice and is there any way employees can have input into the charities chosen? Or perhaps have more options each month?"

And I also really, really, don't like it when companies collect for charity and then donate in the company name. I'd like the tax write-off for me, thanks very much.

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