tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post3852761650043780384..comments2023-11-18T01:21:55.631-05:00Comments on My Open Wallet: The Office CollectionMadame Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11536189690094235926noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-11690072980917134212013-12-06T19:27:46.920-05:002013-12-06T19:27:46.920-05:00I hate, hate, hate this. Not everybody makes the s...I hate, hate, hate this. Not everybody makes the same money in the office I work in and even if we do, everyone's personal circumstances are different. I can hardly even afford to buy my own family gifts let alone somebody I work with (even my family no longer exchanges gifts because we know the burden and guilt it puts on each other, not to mention we have a huge family). <br />Our office manager used to just buy a card out of office funds and we would all sign it, why isn't this good enough anymore? Then they started this gift collection crap (not the office managers idea). This lady in the office obviously doesn't have money troubles and whatever the occasion, she puts this gift collection together (thoughtful? sort of, to the people receiving the gift). The one time she got a card and I didn't realize you could only sign the card if you contributed to the gift (at the time, I thought the card was separate just as we had done in the past). She tore a strip off me. "You can't sign the card, you didn't contribute to the gift". <br /><br />Why do people feel it necessary to buy their co-workers gifts? Half the time they're not even that close and every other time they're busy talking behind your back anyway. And why buy them a gift for leaving? They obviously don't want to stay at the piece of shit job, that's why they're leaving. If I leave this office, it'll be all the gift I need. Why not buy a gift for the poor sucker that's loyal enough to stay? <br />Half the stuff they buy is nick nack crap anyway. <br />I hope nobody ever buys me anything at this place. I don't want someone to feel put out for me. A nice congrats or "Happy Birthday" is good enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-50374916582907299382012-03-06T19:06:55.213-05:002012-03-06T19:06:55.213-05:00How much do I leave. Well, it depends. If I like t...How much do I leave. Well, it depends. If I like the person $5. I generally despise gift giving things, but I always donate in smaller work environments. I used to donate at a large corporation where I worked, but since no one held any baby showers for me I got mad and just started passing the envelope. One time I had the nerve to count the money before passing it on and there was maybe $7 (with 2 maybe 3 people left to shake down). The party given was huge, so I'm guessing petty cash was used...Oh and most people don't like being hit-up for money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-58893843920090640162008-09-27T01:07:00.000-04:002008-09-27T01:07:00.000-04:00I try not to give anything, especially if it is so...I try not to give anything, especially if it is someone I care nothing about.<BR/><BR/>I have noticed that people in our office who have less money are the people who are the most generous.<BR/><BR/>I am very cheap, very selfish, and after a while the five dollars here and there add up to a whole lot of stock that I could have bought and made lots of money from.<BR/><BR/>I always say,"I don't have anything on Me right now, so I will get back with you" and people will just leave Me alone.Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07064332985551460339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-27584999790845409032008-09-16T01:20:00.000-04:002008-09-16T01:20:00.000-04:00I find this topic interesting. I always contribute...I find this topic interesting. I always contribute $5-$10 and if I'm really close to the person benefitting I will buy a present. I give based on how I feel about the person.<BR/><BR/>Anyway I am collecting donations at the office for the first time. I gave some posters to some people letting them know I was doing a sponsored ride. I didn't wanna ask a lot of people but I'm at $320 with lots of pledges. I was surprised by donors. The largest was $50 from a lady I'm really fond of!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-8298677778272785062008-09-02T22:29:00.000-04:002008-09-02T22:29:00.000-04:00We are having issues at our office of 13 where som...We are having issues at our office of 13 where some don't want to contribute at all. I was thinking of starting a fund of .50 for each person every pay day .... A sort of rainy day fund? Not sure if this will work. Any thoughts?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-9699977692955274472008-08-28T11:13:00.000-04:002008-08-28T11:13:00.000-04:00Personally, my office donations have always been b...Personally, my office donations have always been based on what I could afford at the time. It used to bother me that I often couldn't contribute as much as the next person but decided people should be happy I gave anything at all. As a gift recipient, I wouldn't expect anyone to give up their last $5 for any gift or occassion. <BR/><BR/>There are probably better ways for people to work an in-office gift pool that would eliminate the opporunity for office gossips to share who gave what and take the pressure off those not able to give as much as they would like to due to budget limitations. <BR/><BR/>Best bet for givers is to give what you can when you can, no matter who the gift is for. If your office tends to do a lot of these pools, consider tucking away a few bucks in your desk each week for just such an occasion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-28829084736351379532008-08-26T12:19:00.000-04:002008-08-26T12:19:00.000-04:00i also can't stand being asked to donate to these ...i also can't stand being asked to donate to these sorts of things. Not all co-workers have equally warm and fuzzy feelings about someone, so to ask around for donations really irks me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-66673868166968068802008-08-25T16:53:00.000-04:002008-08-25T16:53:00.000-04:00Our office generally just passes around a card for...Our office generally just passes around a card for everyone to sign on birthdays; however, for babies, weddings, goings-away, etc., there's always a collection. I've never given more than $5, and sometimes I've given $1 or nothing. It depends on how much I like the co-worker. I agree with others who posted that I just generally don't like being asked to donate for these things. For one, if I am close enough to the person to want to spend money on them, I would buy them a gift myself.Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17861047751590022603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-73286516323812232982008-08-25T16:39:00.000-04:002008-08-25T16:39:00.000-04:00At my job we pool for one large gift (or sometimes...At my job we pool for one large gift (or sometimes gift certificate). Everyone contributes the same amount regardless of position or age but its never over $20Annyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00387909735539879503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-61728712155957559402008-08-24T19:09:00.000-04:002008-08-24T19:09:00.000-04:00Traditionally, we don't do birthdays or deaths (On...Traditionally, we don't do birthdays or deaths (One rare exception: a coworker was widowed. Somehow, that's very different from having mom die). We get an email regarding the situation (and actually these are rare events -- we're a group largely past marrying, birthing, etc.) and those who wish to contribute can go see the secretary to do so. Everyone can sign the card. <BR/><BR/>I usually give $5-10, but if it's for someone dear to me I give more. At least twice I gave $40 -- and an individual gift. But that's because I loved that person so. And it gave me the chance to be generous without taking credit for the generosity. There can be an upside to these things!Bittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13328808801958155196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-48051924176369642612008-08-24T18:52:00.000-04:002008-08-24T18:52:00.000-04:00Bronx Chica- being on a budget, i chip in $5-$10 d...Bronx Chica- being on a budget, i chip in $5-$10 depending on the person. also these events fall around when we all get paid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-79870425265577384342008-08-24T09:36:00.000-04:002008-08-24T09:36:00.000-04:00Another thought about why the older employees migh...Another thought about why the older employees might give less -- maybe they've had more years of being compelled to pitch in on these "voluntary" gifts and they know better just how many of these things they have to contribute to over the course of their working lives. When you have to give a dozen or more times a year, over the course of a career, you probably do get cheaper over time.<BR/><BR/>We have very few of these things at my work; but we do have the school and scouts fundraisers, where every parent brings in catalogs to sell cookie dough, giftwrap, nuts, and junk. We also have catalogs for "home parties" like Tupperware, that some of our assistants send around to every woman (somehow the men never get those sent to them. hmmm.)<BR/><BR/>When I first started at this company 7 years ago, I bought something from each fundraiser or catalog that was brought to me, figuring that what comes around, goes around; that eventually I'd be fundraising for my own kid's school. I quit, though, after the year and a half -- I just couldn't keep up with the demand. And I don't even want cookie dough or Tupperware. <BR/><BR/>And now that my own kids gets the fundraiser catalogues, I don't bring them into work. Instead, I just send a check to the school for 50 bucks -- which is the profit they'd get from my kid selling 10 tubs of cookie dough. <BR/><BR/>Madame X, that might be an interesting post -- what does everybody do about school fundraisers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-47901437569790374532008-08-23T21:25:00.000-04:002008-08-23T21:25:00.000-04:00Clearly this post struck a chord! $20 is a lot. We...Clearly this post struck a chord! <BR/><BR/>$20 is a lot. We do birth and Xmas collections. I give $5-10 for births, and at Xmas, $10 for the cleaning lady and $20 for support staff such as mail room staff. I've discussed this with some coworkers so know this is not unusual. <BR/><BR/>We don't do presents for people leaving, just drinks, and if it's someone close to me, I'd take them for lunch out separately.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-38094909588842075772008-08-22T12:46:00.000-04:002008-08-22T12:46:00.000-04:00After reading a few more posts, I have to add one ...After reading a few more posts, I have to add one more thing...<BR/><BR/>I hate it when people bring in food. About 10% bring it in and give a nice short general announcement, "Food in the kitchen", which is fine. Nothing wrong with that. The other 90% bring it in and practically force feed you. If you don't take it you are viewed as unappreciative or even mean. I didn't ask for it, now stop trying to give me a heart attack with your lard filled cake.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-47665937720461400232008-08-22T12:36:00.000-04:002008-08-22T12:36:00.000-04:00I'm a little late to this, but I have to say I HAT...I'm a little late to this, but I have to say I HATE donating for gifts in the office. 90% of time it's for someone you stumble across once or twice a month. Why should you be obligated to give? You shouldn't be obligated, but you are, because the person running it is doing a "good" deed...and who gives or doesn't give always gets out.<BR/><BR/>Plus, the gift is always something useless, that nobody wants. Just more crap for the landfill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-76463559491187441002008-08-22T11:11:00.000-04:002008-08-22T11:11:00.000-04:00I am a solo-practitioner in Brooklyn, I have 7 sup...I am a solo-practitioner in Brooklyn, I have 7 support staff. For B-days, everyone gives $10, and I order in a more expensive lunch (sushi) for the office and put in an extra $50-100. The b-day person usually brings in a cake, and we have wine (left over from Xmas gifts or client gifts). We used to purchase gifts for that amount, but everyone expressed that they preferred the cash, so now its cash, a card and a flowers. Everyone is happy with the arrangement (I think!) because they get to enjoy a leisurely lunch and they know that they wont get stuff with some unwanted gift.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-79113713756632696712008-08-22T07:33:00.000-04:002008-08-22T07:33:00.000-04:00I've only been at my job for a little over a year,...I've only been at my job for a little over a year, but I've never been asked to contribute money to a pot. If we're giving anyone a gift for something, we expense it and the company pays for it. It's not sneaking it or anything - we have a special expense code for internal gifts, and we just fill in the reason.<BR/><BR/>I can't imagine ever passing an envelope without a set amount though... when I've collected money with friends for something like this, we determine what we're going to get the person and then divide it up amongst everyone. I did this for a coworker at an internship once too, and it was the same thing. I can't believe the person who said that the guy who buys the gifts collects more than the gift!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17100746061554733157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-34368925155147374992008-08-22T03:01:00.000-04:002008-08-22T03:01:00.000-04:00I agree with many of the folks before me...I work ...I agree with many of the folks before me...<BR/><BR/>I work in a very large group of coworkers. Because we do shifts I don't even work with half of them or more. They take up collections for EVERYTHING. Weddings, babies, personal life disasters, medical emergencies... they want your money, they want your donations for raffles, they want your time off to share with people...and it's almost on a weekly basis.<BR/><BR/>Quite frankly, we all work hard and we choose how to spend our time and money. I have an emergency fund which I'll use if I'm having an emergency. As for weddings, if you're invited you give a gift. Otherwise, why do we need to give them more than a card? <BR/><BR/>I'm definitely low man on the totem pole but even so, I don't like to give to random people for things. I brought small token gifts and cards in to mentors, managers, and people who helped me out early on. I've got less than a handful of people I'm close to and will likely bring them cards for christmas or gifts when their babies are born in the next few years. <BR/><BR/>I'll occasionally bake or buy a treat to bring in and share for a holiday or "just because" but mandating me to bring something or give something makes it so hard for me to join.<BR/><BR/>Additionally, I get the feeling a lot of people doing the collecting like to make sure everyone knows how great they are for being the one with the good idea sending out emails so the managers are aware what wonderful team players they area. <BR/><BR/>I wish the whole practice of solicitation on any level would be banned in the workplace. It puts people in SUCH an awkward position! I feel really bad for people carrying debt and trying to get on decent financial footing when they're constantly hit up and feel compelled to give to someone they don't even interact with on a daily basis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-90235449470873174952008-08-22T02:19:00.000-04:002008-08-22T02:19:00.000-04:00I'm 40 and between grad school and my current comp...I'm 40 and between grad school and my current company, the amount donated seems to depend on how well liked someone is.<BR/><BR/>Dollar amounts are sometimes specified for cake and ice cream, but for getting married, amounts seem to depend on personality. People are unpredictable: I started the collection envelope in grad school with change of $20, and one secretary, chipped in $10 signingd the card, "Good luck, whoever you are!" She was about 30-5. Most grad students where I was were about 25-35 and we raised $300, an unheard of amount. The couple was not amused, saying we were "crazy," but took the gift card anyway (they were French). I later learned that the French keep family and coworkers separate and tend not to discuss their families at work, and questions about families is off limits, and collecting $300, however generous to Americans, violated their boundaries. Perhaps we Americans need some?<BR/><BR/>At work, I try not to keep track of amounts, but for my sweet, Indian coworker, one worker (50s? 60s?) wrote a $50 check (it cleared, no problem), saying she could only wish the new couple the best.<BR/><BR/>I usu. give $5; if I really like them, $20 (the Indian girl I gave $20). I consider myself frugal and often think all these 'showers' by coworkers are forced, and try to skate through them quickly.glennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11078995112922553149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-82645810610117567782008-08-21T21:49:00.000-04:002008-08-21T21:49:00.000-04:00PS - the main contribution we had to make were for...PS - the main contribution we had to make were for Christmas gifts for the administrative staff in our small academic department. So it was the professors giving money to the chairman to buy the gifts each year. Half our faculty were Jewish BTW including the chairman and myself...mOOmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03440274434662150925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-58687897750405045302008-08-21T21:32:00.000-04:002008-08-21T21:32:00.000-04:00I pretty much always used to ask "how much are peo...I pretty much always used to ask "how much are people giving", "what do you suggest", or "how much do you want to raise".mOOmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03440274434662150925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-72803818988517073902008-08-21T17:06:00.000-04:002008-08-21T17:06:00.000-04:00Interesting topic!!! Honestly, when my co-workers...Interesting topic!!! Honestly, when my co-workers get married/ have a baby/retire etc etc I'm happy for them and happy to contribute. I usually give $15-20. It's too bad this is such an "obligation" for people. Maybe I'm just lucky to have worked with great people. <BR/><BR/>I feel the same way with wedding. I hear a lot of griping on the Personal Finance boards about how much people have to spend to attend a wedding. Personally, I always have a good time at weddings and am happy to attend.3beansaladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12186797368427271059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-11567275427304592222008-08-21T14:53:00.000-04:002008-08-21T14:53:00.000-04:00I dont usually give to pots like this. My work is...I dont usually give to pots like this. My work is all about taking money from people for things. We tend to have younger staff since we are a smaller company (700). If I like my work mate enough for some event happening, I will take them out to lunch on my own. If not, then I am not obligated to pay anything. I have always thought it was ridiculously stupid to get something for someone having a baby (the point of a shower is for her close friends to get her the things she needs in case they were poor). The same thing goes for a wedding. The purpose of the shower was to help setup the home of the woman (usually kitchen implements) so they can have a good home when they move in together. <BR/><BR><BR/>As for birthdays, my manager picks them up for the birthday person - and everyone else pays their own way. So that is cool. The last one drives me the most bananas. We used to have casual Friday's (wear jeans to work). Our new CEO says that jeans are not professional and decided to ban them. Great - no problem. Now they have a "if you pay $5 bucks, you can wear jeans to work on Friday" for the cause of the week (Make a wish foundation, hurricane relief, etc.) Again - this would be great if it were voluntary. People were sneaking into work with jeans - and not paying, well HR fired 3 people for that as they were not wearing appropriate work attire (even though it was a jeans day, for pay). And then HR goes around and shakes down those people that did not pay and wear jeans. They ask why you did not wear jeans and pressure you into it. Then they send out lists to managers, of who has/hasn't contributed to the "Friday Jeans" and to try to get 100% participation (on their reviews). Since HR has to manage the list so they can give it to the various charities so that everyone gets their tax deduction credits, they have all the info. <BR/><BR><BR/>I still don't give .. however I asked HR for a 532 dollar raise and I said I would participate. That is the amount of money it would take for me to break even after payroll and income taxes and 401k allotment to have the 260 dollars after tax to pay $5 a week. They did not take it seriously, so I don't take their weekly nagging seriously :)Nothing fancy to think of ..https://www.blogger.com/profile/01072196836633642909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-81803152346858099322008-08-21T14:42:00.000-04:002008-08-21T14:42:00.000-04:00I think the young people chip out more not only be...I think the young people chip out more not only because how they are raise, also because they want/need to be liked, they don't want to offend anyone they might need help in the following career path. When I start working in a new office, I might ask the average amount or give a little more than the average. (Like around $20) In the case of this "secret donation", there are always leaking about who give out what. A senior excecutive doesn't care what others say. But if you are a newcomer and you need that old secretary's help at your work (at least not destroy), you better don't skip her birthday gift!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-64673059860546421642008-08-21T14:29:00.000-04:002008-08-21T14:29:00.000-04:00In my NY office we celebrate baby showers and wedd...In my NY office we celebrate baby showers and weddings. I've seen amounts from $5 - $200 (from execs). Since the company is small (<50) we celebrate birthday's 12x a year by having a monthly birthday cake and champagne, bought and paid for by the company.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com