Solicitation at work

[runwad]

I work at a fairly large company. Our corporate office has around 150 employees. My big peeve is they are always looking for donations for this cause and that. That's fine, I got the email you gave me the info on who I need to see or send my donation to. But it doesnt' stop there they always have these people walk around from office to office and cube to cube asking you to support their cause with a donation. I feel this is wrong. Yes you can say no but not without embarrassment, although honestly I have no problem. I guess I'm standing up for some co-workers who are really having a tough time in this economy with pay cuts and what not. So what do you all think, is it right for a company to send its employees around office to office taking contributions for charities? Is there any HR people who could chime in? I just wonder if I'm off base here in my irritation with this practice. Thanks

 

[ontariomonkey]

Are you saying that it is your company that is asking for donations from it's employees for charity? I would be annoyed if someone came to my cubicle and asked, but I wouldn't mind an email.

I would ask how much the company plans to donate.

Also, I would ask the company to create a matching program. So for every dollar you donate, they also donate a dollar.

Also, at least in Canada, if you give lots of small donation, it is not tax deductable, but if you give enough (usually $20) you get a receipt and then save some income tax.

I would be annoyed. I also don't like it when people bring all their kids' chocolate bars etc to sell if they are pushy. If it's just out on the table, fine.

 

[gillenkl]

No, I don't think co-workers should ask for donations within the office. I also don't think co-workers should bring in their children's fundraisers to work either. DH has just learned politely to say "no thank you". Otherwise you're going to be nickle and dimed to death.

 

[kellia]

I hear you! We are always having fundraisers for charities through the company. Since we are a small office, it's pretty noticable if you don't. I'm not stingy, but with 3 kids and dh and I having daycare expenses and we each drive 1 hour each way just to GET to work, I dislike being asked to donate once I get there.

The co-workers bring stuff in for their kids, but it just sits on the counter, no pushy there.

 

[dawson5]

my DH's work has implemented a no solicitation policy at work. You can no longer ask anyone if they would like to buy girl scout cookies even. It's nice but it's also sad--we have boys, we sell popcorn I would bring it up to HR like PP stated. Maybe they could coordinate a flat donation that could be divided up between all causes equally.

 

[runwad]

Are you saying that it is your company that is asking for donations from it's employees for charity? I would be annoyed if someone came to my cubicle and asked, but I wouldn't mind an email.

I would ask how much the company plans to donate.

Also, I would ask the company to create a matching program. So for every dollar you donate, they also donate a dollar.

Also, at least in Canada, if you give lots of small donation, it is not tax deductable, but if you give enough (usually $20) you get a receipt and then save some income tax.

I would be annoyed. I also don't like it when people bring all their kids' chocolate bars etc to sell if they are pushy. If it's just out on the table, fine.

Well this particular instance no it's not the company asking but a few co-workers and the company allows them to go office to office asking for donations. The company also contributes but they'd like 100% participation from employee's. I think the email is fine too and I'm all for THIS cause so have no problems donating but this always happens and quite frankly i don't know how these ladies can afford so much time away from their desks to go office to office when the rest of us are so swamped. We got the email with all the info, I have no problem stopping by co-workers desk and giving her my donation but really if it was a cause I don't support I don't like them coming to my office asking for a donation. The company does have reps come around our offices for charities they sponsor like food banks and united way and ask for donations too. I just don't think this is proper office protocal and am thinking of writing an anonymous letter to the powers that be.

 

[ShesAPirate]

Going from desk to desk asking for donations is just wrong. People shouldn't put anyone on the spot like that. It's just pushy and guilt-trippy

I don't mind the kids fundraisers, though. In my office, people bring in the booklets and leave them in the employee lounge - no passing them around, no desk to desk. It's there if you want something, but no one's shoving it down your throat.

 

[DisneyMom81]

A woman at my office has a brother over in Afganistan, and she asked people to donate food. She wants to do it every single month! The only one to donate was the owner of the company. I was going to throw something in there, but forgot to buy it at the food store. And truthfully, I only just started here, and people who have worked with her and known her for years didn't give anything. Plus I really can't stand the woman. Maybe if she does it next month (which I doubt) I'll throw in some breakfast bars.
Another thing that annoyed me was that she gave out a list of items that the army says they want, but she highlighted things that she wanted sent. I don't know, it just rubbed me the wrong way, like, "my brother will only eat this." kind of thing.

 

[Shleedogg]

I used to work for Citigroup before I had DD. We had at least 400 people in our office, the soliciting for charities and peoples' kids was out of control. We had an office policy against all of it. You couldn't ask for any money/donations unless it was a company sponsored event. It made the office much more comfortable.

 

[OceanAnnie]

We had a similar thing at our office. Donations were "strongly" encouraged. Each division was "supposed" to get 100% and they nagged you until they got it! Competition between divisions. It was a real drag. I do give to charities, but I want to choose, I want to have that choice, and I want to decide how I give. At my office they were "encouraging" payroll deduction (with the forms and everything), but I wouldn't do that. I did end up giving a small amount just to get them off of my back so they could get their 100%.

 

[Handbag Lady]

It would bother me if people came door-to-door AFTER sending out an email.

I guess I am lucky, though. We do have parents with kids who have to sell stuff for school, but they are allowed to send out emails. If you are interested, you just reply and the parent (and sometimes the kid if the parents are really great about the kid selling and answering the questions) will come on by at lunch with the catalog.

I also ask for donations once a year. I do the CHOC Walk at Disneyland and I do the same thing: I send one email with the link to donate and a quick story of why I do it. I hate to pressure people.

(Now if I can only get past the guilt of not being able to donate as much to other people's walks and marathons-for money, I'd be much happier! )

 

[dhdozier]

HEy - were you reading my mind I am a teacher and my elementary school is terrible about this! If it isn't someone running you down to buy something from their child in scouts, band, etc.., then it is the finance committee coming up with another scheme to make money where the teachers are EXPECTED to buy things that can be raffled off or sold (and not for their classroom use, I mean like for playground equipment and other big ticket items). It seems this is happening more and more this year. Just this week every teacher had to contribute $5 toward making baskets that are to raffled off at a rodeo to raise money for more playground equipment (our school is expanding but dont feel too sorry for us, there is plenty to play on they are just ordering more and more!!) A friend of mine got really angry about it and flat out refused. I totally supported her decision to say no. I complained but gave some anyway... I am thinking I am going to say something to our admin about it becuase I know for a fact there were some teachers who really didn't have it to give yet felt pressured to do it - you know like the movie Happiness with Will SMith and he gives his last $5 to the boss for cab fare to save face. You should give because you want to and you are able to!

 

[SaveTheSeaTurtles]

I am in agreement with the PP who have said that they don't like it. It is not fair for a company to allow solicitation. It puts people on the spot and many times, you are made to feel (either consciously or unconsciously) like you are a terrible person if you do not donate. Kudos to the companies that do not allow it.

I used to work for a company in Atlanta that FORCED you to "donate" to United Way each pay check. It was ridiculous. Just so they could say they had 100% participation. We literally had the division managers asking for the names of the employees who did NOT contribute and each of them was confronted individually and told that they MUST contribute. Seriously... Of course, this same company would not allow any employee to take off any time during the week of Easter because the owner would hold the annual company meeting every Good Friday. If you did not show up for any reason besides death or serious illness (hospitalized) , that person mysteriously was let go within the month. I have never heard of that happening anywhere else - if anyone in Atlanta works for the company, they will instantly recognize this post !

 

[etoiles]

I currently work for a company that has a no solicitation policy and I am very glad about it.

I also worked for a company (school) in the past that did a fundraiser for the school itself. It held a fashion show and each ticket was $75 (seemed like a lot to me). The fashion show was held on DH's birthday so I did not attend or buy a ticket. We were already being paid lower than public schools and our paychecks bounced regularly, I am buying paper for the copier and I have to donate my money back to the school? No, I did not agree with that . I was confronted why I did not buy a ticket even though I did not attend the show and a whole meeting was held about how few tickets the teachers sold. We were told if we could not afford the 75 we could be put on a payment plan!

I ended up forking over the $75 for the lousy fashion show I did not attend held by my employer where the money went to the principal, her daughter (dean), sister in law (educational director), niece (accountant who bounced our paychecks), son (technology guy -full time job for a school with only 30 computers), daughter in law (supposed to get grants but has not covered her job cost yet)

 

[Mrs.Reese]

My school has a strict "no soliciation" policy. Now my husband's school is another story. It makes for a very uncomfortable work environment. If you want to wear jeans on Friday, you have to donate. I think that's ridiculous. I told him that we're not contributing to anymore baby showers, bridal showers, fundraisers, walk-a-thons, etc. It costed us over $1000 one year alone! I would take it up with your HR people.

 

[prncess674]

I know this is a difficult topic, but I say just make your own policy. I don't donate to any of these items, but also realize that if you/your child is soliciting then you should not solicit your coworkers for sales/donations.

I only buy the things I really want. I buy girl scout cookies, because frankly I like them and remember selling them as a kid.

I am always amused by the parents who are all so "put off" by others soliciting donations, etc but then think nothing of asking others to shovel the money out the door for their kids. Trust me, people remember when you donate to their causes and will reciprocate when you ask for donations to theirs.

Make a policy about not donating, but also make a policy about not soliciting as well.

 

[denisegold]

Even though most of the posts are pretty much my opinion, I figure I'd chime in. I think one email is ok, but to then follow up with a "visit" is out of bounds, IMO. And as far as the crap they make kids sell at school- it wouldn't be so bad if most of it wasn't crap. Overpriced gift wrap and candy- crazy.
I have 3 charities I donate to (disease research type) and that's all I can afford. Period. I don't feel guilty- how could you?? There are thousands of people with a hand out- you can only give so much.

 

[Stacerita]

I would take it to HR and see what they have to say. Something about that doesn't sit well with me at all. We are not allowed to advertise or even leave on the counter things to let people know we are selling. We can keep them at our desks, and others can look at the catalogs on their breaks. But no way are we allowed to go cubicle to cubicle to solicit.

 

[swilshire]

At work, I just informed my coworkers that we donate all we can afford to our favorite charities and won't be able to support any others.

Just went through a situation with DS's HS band. The kids were ordered to sell tickets to a pancake breakfast. I refused to allow DS to go around the neighborhood, since we live in an area with a lot of retirees and others who wouldn't be able to afford to contribute. Even those who could afford it would prefer not to be bothered. The band directors made a statement about punishing the kids who didn't meet the sales quota, so DD the 2nd year law school student went online and found the school board's fund raising policy, which of course prohibits that. I copied and highlighted the policy for the band director and also emailed the school principal. I'm sure I'm his favorite band mom now.

Sheila

 

[AntePrincess]

Just went through a situation with DS's HS band. The kids were ordered to sell tickets to a pancake breakfast. I refused to allow DS to go around the neighborhood, since we live in an area with a lot of retirees and others who wouldn't be able to afford to contribute. Even those who could afford it would prefer not to be bothered. The band directors made a statement about punishing the kids who didn't meet the sales quota, so DD the 2nd year law school student went online and found the school board's fund raising policy, which of course prohibits that. I copied and highlighted the policy for the band director and also emailed the school principal. I'm sure I'm his favorite band mom now.

Sheila, That's unbelievable! Back when I was in elementary school they were already talking about banning the child door-to-door salesman business, I can't imagine there are people who would still insist these days. You're nicer than me, I'd have photocopied about a dozen missing child ads and sent them in with my protest.

Anyway, we don't donate. I have one cause that matters a great deal to my family, and we give to that cause every chance we can. It happens to be education in our community. I literally go to our accountant and work out the maximum we can write off every year, hand that over as a minimum, and give when I can in addition to that. After that, I'll do the pancake breakfasts and buy concessions at the high school drama production, but mostly because they're still a very cheap outing for the family and I like where the money is going. That's it. I'm a grinch, I guess. (I also never solicit.)