Employee Dilemma

[Maleficent13]

I have an employee who approached me this morning with a story. Her niece was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, and her family is having a fundraiser for the woman in a couple weeks.

My employee brought in flyers for the event, and wants to know if she can post them around the department.

Now, in the past we have had a strict "no posting" policy for charities, because we as an organization officially support one charity and they brook no competition. I have turned other requests down (we couldn't advertise the Komen walk, for example). We're actually in the middle of a drive for our official charity as well.

But this flyer is staring at me on my desk right now...this mom and her two little ones...who are quite probably going to be motherless in the not too distant future.

I can already hear the protests if I allow this to be posted. But how can I not allow it? I asked HR about it, but in true HR fashion, they completely ignored my request and so I'm on my own.

 

[Patty3]

WOW, you are in a tough position. In my company, rules were rules and no matter how my heart would ache for someone, my hands were tied.

 

[TKERBELL]

If your company states a "no solicitation" policy than unfortunatly you may be obligated to stand by that policy - On that note you referenced Koman walk - and then stated you were staring at a flyer with a mom and two little ones who may be motherless shortly - the Koman walk is for Breast Cancer and not to be callus but there are many little ones who are already motherless because of this crappy disease and many are fatherless because of the crappyness of Cancer itself.....

I applaud your courage to bring this to the DIS boards and I wish you luck in you decision - Not an easy one I am sure - My heart goes to you -

Please let us know how it turns out

 

[stinkerbelle]

If you let one, you have to let them all.

Stick to company policy. And have that as your "excuse" (even though it's 100% the truth)

Sorry you're in this position.

 

[phorsenuf]

Well, I guess you need to ask yourself if you want to set a precedence? If you do this then you'll have to allow it for everyone and it very well could get out of hand.

What is your policy on solicitation and individual fundraisers (like the one's parents bring in for their kids). If that's allowed then I would tell her it is against company policy to display it but if she wants to give them to fellow employees she could.

It's a tough situation but you need to turn that piece of paper over so that lady isn't looking at you anymore. LOL

 

[MosMom]

Would it be possible to have a chat with her and let her know she can't display the flyers but she can spread the verbal word and allow word to spread? Is she allowed to have one flyer at her desk? That way, if people want to know when they can just swing by her desk?

Is there a way around the policy?

 

[Maleficent13]

People are allowed to bring in school fundraiser stuff and leave it in the community lunchroom, so we don't exactly have a no solicitation policy. It's pretty much a "no charity" policy, because our official charity would be po'd and we might lose that relationship.

Come to think of it, there was an employee a few weeks ago (not in my department) who's son died. There was a collection for her but we were not permitted to even use the company email system to let anyone know about it. I just remembered this.

MosMom, I think you have the best idea. That's what I'm going to go with. Thanks everyone.

 

[MosMom]

MosMom, I think you have the best idea. That's what I'm going to go with. Thanks everyone.

Woohoo! That's what I get paid the zero bucks for.

 

[phorsenuf]

MosMom, I think you have the best idea. That's what I'm going to go with. Thanks everyone.

HMMPPPFFFF

 

[golfgal]

There was a similar situation at DH's office a few months ago, the son of two of the people that work there needed a kidney transplant-the baby was 2 months old-and they have the same no posting policy/give to one charity thing that you do. It was decided that they could post a flyer at their desk AND send out a company wide-email about the event. On Fridays employees can pay a minimum of $1 to wear jeans and all funds collected go to various local charities. They held an extra jean day for this family as well.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Since you have never honored one before, I would not honor this one.

 

[Maleficent13]

HMMPPPFFFF

Sorry, phorsenuf!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Posting the flyer in the companies public area seems like it would be against policy. It would appear as a company-sponsored event.

The company having a jeans-day is definately a company-sponsored event.

This employee personally passing around the invites and word of mouth, without any company involvement seems perfectly acceptable!

I would let the employee pass the word/invites around!!!
After all, she is free to invite coworkers to a function/party if she wants to.... right.

If this applies, you might want to remind her to be careful to try to do this before work, after work, break-times, etc... So she doesn't appear to be focusing on this when she should be working.

I am so sorry to hear about the family!!!

 

[NMAmy]

Woohoo! That's what I get paid the zero bucks for.

Late to the party but I agree with MosMom!

 

[luvwinnie]

Would it be possible to have a chat with her and let her know she can't display the flyers but she can spread the verbal word and allow word to spread? Is she allowed to have one flyer at her desk? That way, if people want to know when they can just swing by her desk?

Is there a way around the policy?

Exactly what I was going to say!

 

[Rajah]

I agree with MosMom. That's the best way around the policy