Is it right for employers to make employees feel obligated to make donations?

Question

My husband is a diesel mechanic the largest mass merchandiser chain in the U.S. (won't say who just incase we can get in legal trouble asking this). Once a week he tells me somebody has come to demonstrate something on the jobsite that they are selling and the managers help push the product or the charity and insist that they are good employees by donating and supporting other companies. He may have a great job but we have bills just like everybody else. I feel they shouldn't be doing this at work. There should be a special meeting for those who want to attend demonstrations or give to charities through work.

One of the most common things they ask employees to do is to have a monthly sum drawn out of their paychecks to go toward a charity or product somebody is selling.

Answer 1

No it isn't right, just say no. Or ask if you can bring your own donation jar to get help with personal expenses. Seriously, tell them you can't afford to support their charities and the ones you donate to on your own. Is your husband being paid to watch these demonstrations? If not he doesn't have to be there.

Answer 2

I completely agree with you - I think your husband should have a discreet word with the HR department. If the company really wants to help, why not give time off to donate blood?

The managers are likely claiming any of their donations against tax. If they even make any.

At a large international company I worked for, any such meetings were voluntary and attended after work, and only once a month. We did go along if we liked the person who organised it, or the charity, but we didn't have to go. And any requests for donations were on the basis of "see Joe tomorrow if you would like to donate." Not there and then.

Anyone who had a sponsored walk or marathon would circulate an email asking us to drop by their desk if we felt generous enough to sponsor them.

Again, nobody approached or hounded anyone for money. It was not company policy. Although the company would match the total with their own donation, there was never any pressure (or public pressure) to give what is after all your and your family's money away!

Except one woman, and her manager had a word with her to stop pestering people. Prior to that, we would say nicely to her,

"Sure, I'll think about it, talk to my wife/partner and get back to you."

"Sorry, I've no change right now."

or

"We already have certain charities we support regularly - those are our first choice for family reasons."

Good luck!

Answer 3

The whole point of charity is to give out of the goodness of your heart. The company that your husband is working at seems to have forgotten this. Perhaps they just want to look good to competitors and investors by provoking employees to donate. I think your husband should talk to his boss and explain that he cannot afford large sums of money taken out of his paycheck. He should limit his donation to about $20 a month (this is the standard amount as far as I know). He should also offer to do some volunteer work for the charity instead of donating money. Whether or not he will have to do it is up to his boss, but at least his boss will appreciate his offer and perhaps be reminded what charity is all about. Hope this helps!!

Answer 4

It is not right that this employer is trying to force their employees to donate to charities. I know that there are a lot of needing people out there, but what happens when we become the ones that are needing? It is a shame that he is put in this position. I would suggest calling the attorney general in your area and see if this is actually legal. Some states have forms on-line that can be printed out and submitted.

Answer 5

It is against the law to force any one to give to some charity or buy some product. One way the employer can induce you to go along is to make you feel your job is at risk. Of course they cant let you go for not doing these" favors for the company" but some people don't want to take the chance. It sounds like your husband is willing to go with the flow for his job.

Answer 6

Well, it is wrong period. That we all agree.

Now, what to do and still look good to the boss? I like the anonymous call to the headquarters or HR department idea.

Or call the newspaper, anonymously. They love to dig dirt about Wal-Mart - Oh let's face it, we all got it is Wal-Mart. - But don't let your husband say anything to the paper. Just the reporters going around asking things will make management take some action about it.

Or just make your husband make excuses everytime he is asked for mony, like: "My kid got braces, I cannot afford to donate this time" and make them get more outrageous by the time "Oh, sorry, i need to pay the stripper", or "sorry, can't donate, I just bought an Brad Pitt tooth on eBay". They will get the picture soon and stop asking.

Answer 7

You're right. It isn't right for employers to guilt their employees into donating money to anyone or anything. It's his hard-earned money, and if he (and you) feel you want to donate some of it to what you two feel is a worthy cause, then you should be able to of your own free will, not because of a guilt trip. His priority is supporting his family and paying the bills (which I imagine is why he works in the first place). He and his fellow employees need to make it clear to management that they don't appreciate being pressured into donating to anyone or anything they don't want to, and that they need to change their practices.

Answer 8

Well, what is a donation? Should it not be something done voluntarily? I don't think it is right for an employer to make employees feel that they HAVE TO donate something. But I think it is always nice to try to donate to charities when ABLE.

Answer 9

This should not be going on. Your husband is right to be concerning especially if his boss seems to think that is something that they should be doing. However, if this actions is something that the 'boss' is doing without the authority of 'corporate' office or not following company policy, HR would have to inform him and it would have to stop. But yes, this action on your husband's part might have repercussions.

Answer 10

no, your husband is under no legal obligation to contribute. As a matter of fact, i would be willing to bet that corporate has a policy against solicitation on company property. An anonymous call to corporate headquarters should do it.