Community Chat

[lolakimono]

We have a "Sunshine Committee" that takes care of those things (surgeries, funerals, etc.) and then other people collect here and there for things (babies, weddings, retirements). I believe they ask for $20 from each person for the Sunshine Committee (we have 100+ staff/faculty). They even have a "sprinkle" (instead of a shower) for those on their second baby.

[LTT1]

ITA... we solved this problem at school by having a school Sunshine (with designated rules such as "card for losses such as this________" flowers for losses such as this________)

In our department, although there are no "rules" we discuss the appropriateness of gifts. Also, the Sunshine person collects now $15.00 for those who want to contribute, at the beginning of the year. Each individual, of course, is welcome to purchase gifts independently for individuals as they would like.

If money is left over at the end, the department will buy, for instance, salad/soup combo for a luncheon. The person in charge lately is careful to make a list of contributors/non-contributors. Our dept is approx 30-40 people. HTH

[Financialgrl]

I'm retired but when I worked we had a sunshine fund. We used it for birthday celebrations (we had a cake once a month for all who had a birthday that month and all signed cards for those) or death of an immediate family member.

You've opened up the can of worms so I'll express my other office pet peeve that can get expensive - - parents bringing in their children's girl scout cookie sales, school fundraisers and all the MLM home party invites or sometimes just the "book sales" type. I worked in an office where guidance was put out against this and yet there were always people who thought it didn't apply to them.

[Bird mama]

Colonel Meow - a co-worker and I were just talking about this the other day. She was saying if someone sneezes on our floor, they take up a donation.

I assume you are working because you have financial responsibilities to meet. If this trend of $100 a month continues, and I suspect it will with Christmas around the corner, you may want to finish out 2014 but turn a new leaf in 2015.

There is nothing wrong with being selective about contributing. These people don't know what you do outside of work and what you are responsible for.

Example - my employer has suggested giving limits for the annual United Way campaign. They suggest I give close to $800 a year to United Way. I give $50 once. They don't know the other charitable organizers that I support throughout the year. I figure it this way - I gave something that makes them look like their employees are engaged. Enough said.

Perhaps in 2015, you can cap the contribution amount you are willing to give. This way, you are still participating. Just a thought.

[151949]

When possible I would say " Who is that - I'm sorry, I don't think I know her" Then make a small contribution - maybe $5 and say - "But I'll still be happy to give a little something". i do agree, when you work in a large company the contributions for every little thing get to be burdensome.

[Colonel Meow]

On 11/8/2014 occasional rain said:

Unless others in the department are highly paid, I doubt very much that they feel happy about taking care of each other with endless donations. The problem with office collections is that some get many gifts while others get none. It wouldn't be so much an issue if each member got their turn but that doesn't happen.

You've already made your feelings known so I can't see that you have anything to lose by telling the Staff Assistant that after giving it thought you've decided you'd rather recognize the successes of your co-workers by making a charitable donation in their name. That way you can make a smaller donation to a charity of your choice and they will get a nice letter from the charity.

Well, that's something I haven't thought of. Great suggestion!

[Colonel Meow]

On 11/9/2014 BeanCounter17 said:

I'm retired but when I worked we had a sunshine fund. We used it for birthday celebrations (we had a cake once a month for all who had a birthday that month and all signed cards for those) or death of an immediate family member.

You've opened up the can of worms so I'll express my other office pet peeve that can get expensive - - parents bringing in their children's girl scout cookie sales, school fundraisers and all the MLM home party invites or sometimes just the "book sales" type. I worked in an office where guidance was put out against this and yet there were always people who thought it didn't apply to them.

LOL! I know what you mean regarding the fundraisers for kids. That can quickly get out of hand, also.

[Colonel Meow]

On 11/9/2014 Bird mama said:

Colonel Meow - a co-worker and I were just talking about this the other day. She was saying if someone sneezes on our floor, they take up a donation.

I assume you are working because you have financial responsibilities to meet. If this trend of $100 a month continues, and I suspect it will with Christmas around the corner, you may want to finish out 2014 but turn a new leaf in 2015.

There is nothing wrong with being selective about contributing. These people don't know what you do outside of work and what you are responsible for.

Example - my employer has suggested giving limits for the annual United Way campaign. They suggest I give close to $800 a year to United Way. I give $50 once. They don't know the other charitable organizers that I support throughout the year. I figure it this way - I gave something that makes them look like their employees are engaged. Enough said.

Perhaps in 2015, you can cap the contribution amount you are willing to give. This way, you are still participating. Just a thought.

$800 per year!? For only one charity - surely, they can't be serious?

Thanks for your understanding post, and good suggestion.

[kittymomNC]

I've been retired now for a few years, and I don't know how the workplaces have changed. When I was in a corporate situation with a decent sized department, we celebrated special occasions in different ways. Sometimes we would celebrate a birthday by just someone volunteering to make the cake, people contributing a few dollars for drinks, etc. and have it right there in the office.

Other times, for a special anniversary with the company, a promotion, etc., if we could arrange to all be out at the same time, we'd go to lunch together, get a big table, pay for our own meals, and the boss of the department picked up the tab for the "honoree". We had some great times doing that.

If it was something very special (and it had to qualify as very special) like a new baby or someone leaving, we would take up a collection, simply by passing an envelope around (no one person took the envelope individually to each person to put them "on the spot") and everyone contributed what they wanted or could afford. Then someone usually volunteered to go and buy the gift. And everyone would bring in a dish or drinks, etc., and we had potlucks in one of our larger conference rooms.

It may be that other people in your department feel the same way you do, but are afraid to speak up because it might "rock the boat". It might be even harder on some others in the department to afford that much money every month. I had a book many years ago called "Games Mother Never Taught Me", and it was about office politics... sometimes that is the hardest part of a job, negotiating that obstacle course.

Maybe you can just go ahead and participate for a little longer, and after you get to know some of the people in your department better, you might be able to get an idea of how others feel without making a big "to-do" about it. Over time, if others agree with you, it might be possible to change this custom. I wish you luck with it - it's a difficult situation.

[Colonel Meow]

On 11/9/2014 happy housewife said:

When possible I would say " Who is that - I'm sorry, I don't think I know her" Then make a small contribution - maybe $5 and say - "But I'll still be happy to give a little something". i do agree, when you work in a large company the contributions for every little thing get to be burdensome.

This would be a good suggestion "when possible", as you say. For the most part, I'm familiar enough with my co-workers that I couldn't feign ignorance in knowing who they are. However, this may work with staff in various support positions that I have little to no dealings with.