Birthday collections - what do other workplaces do?

Question

In my office, we are constantly being hit up for money. We have a high staff turnover so there's often a collection for someone's leaving gift, which is fine, and because a huge number of us are aged around 30, there's often a collection for someone's wedding, which is cool too.

However, we've now started doing collections for people's b'day gifts too. I object to this for two reasons - firstly because we're always being asked for money, and secondly because we don't do it for everyone, only for certain people, with no rhyme or reason in terms of selecting which people we do it for. How bad would you feel if you were one of the people who didn't get a gift?

Back in the old days, the CEO used to pay £50 out of his own pocket for b'day gifts. This stopped when the company got too big, but the company still pay for a card and cake. I personally feel that this is enough and there is no need for anything else, unless maybe it is a milestone b'day like a 40th.

What do other ppl do?

Answer 1

How tacky !!Some people are the Chosen Few but others are not. A cake in the mailroom (or wherever) should be it. Pass around a card to be signed. One problem here is that many people are on tight budgets. They can't afford to be shelling out B-day money for some co-workers they don't know very well or socialize with. Somehow, this needs to addressed.

Answer 2

I find that it's best to tell everyone that you don't want to contribute to a fund but would rather purchase gifts on your own for people who you are closest to. It CAN get out of hand and really, some of these people are only co-workers. You all should stop and think, "Would I personally buy that person a gift or expect one from them on your birthday" if there wasn't a fund? Most times the answer would be "no" so why should you all have to buy for people you wouldn't normally buy for. You all work for a paycheck for your needs, not everyone else's. Also, I agree whole heartedly about the cake and a card signed by everyone being enough--that's all we do and it's fine. Except we had an eighty year old and we all chipped in for that because it's special. Even then, some of the people complained that they didn't get a party. I told them all when THEY are eighty, they;ll get one too!! Enough is enough!

Answer 3

Usually what happens is a female (just about always) gets nominated by everyone else (because they don't want to) to wander around for days and days asking people to contribute when they know for a fact:

1, Virtually nobody actually wants to give anything apart from the 2 good friends they have.

2, Most will promise to give something next week but wont

3, They will then go out on a limb putting in the collection themselves covering the 'money yet to be collected' so she can buy something decent.
The result of this being everyone will be thanked for the card/flowers/gift but only 6 people gave more then 30 pence and the collector is out of pocket for 20 quid.

4, The very next day, all will say they never liked the person anyway, the collector will realise her cash has dissapeared into the abyss and they ones who promised to pay walk around looking smug at saving a few quid.

Answer 4

The firm where I work pays for major things. Once a month (usually around the middle of the month) they buy several cakes to celebrate the birthdays of everyone who was born that month. If an employee's family member dies, the firm donates flowers to the family member. As for birthday gifts, no--they don't take up a collection or anything like that.

The one thing I know of that has been done that was sort of out of the ordinary was for one of our new associates. His fiancee (now his wife) was diagnosed with lukemia. During his first 2 or 3 months here, she became progressively worse and the chemo wasn't working. He realized that she didn't have much time left, so the firm donated money to pay for a last minute wedding (including cake, flowers and a videographer) and also sent them on a short weekend honeymoon. I don't know how they budgeted it--they didn't ask for donations from anyone. My guess is that all the senior partners donated and that's how it was paid for.

Answer 5

My journey in the place of work has been that tides turn. How terrible is this individual you don't love? If he or she isn't that undesirable and your adjustments are petty, I say make a small contribution. Snubbing the coworker will in person-friendly words encouarge others to no longer assist you even as it is your turn to be on the receiving end. It doesn't could be about a present, both. as an party, i have been requested with assistance from my boss what i presumed about an worker that I had a fairly frosty courting with. He replaced into pondering firing her. even even if i fairly did not take care of the lady, there have been some issues, right here and there, that she did that were "effective" and that i put in some strong words about her valuable sources. The more advantageous associates you've at artwork, the more advantageous powerful....in spite of in the journey that they are no longer "magnificent" freinds.

Answer 6

If its someone birthday here we normally just send a card and get everyone to sign it, if someone is leaving, or off to have a baby or getting married then we do a collection and get a gift. I think to get everyone one in the office a birthday present would be to expensive. I think what we do is fine if you are close to certain colleagues by all means get them a gift, our office small so we know everyone but i wouldn't want to give for someone I didn't know, dont want to sound mean but I wouldn't.

Answer 7

I know not everyone is as hardfaced as me, but I just refuse. If I dont really know the person or like the person I just do not put in.
Luckily, the place I have now has a rule whereby if its your birthday, you buy a cake if you want to celebrate with your work mates. Its much easier and cheaper than buying a gift and you only partake if you want to.

Answer 8

We pass the hat round and do a collection, what goes around comes around. But if someone doesn't want to contribute the persons manager usually makes it up to a round figure and we buy a little gift and have a presentation.

Answer 9

Birthday collections and cards should ALWAYS be voluntary, in the beginning after a change if in the past it wasn't voluntary you will hear a few comments , but after a while it will be accepted because deep down I think everybody hates birthday collections for any number of reasons.

Answer 10

This is crazy. A card and cake is ample. It is hard though cause you feel mean if you dont put in. N only a few get a present anyway. I would refuse I think and make it clear thato it is not fair that if I wanted to buy a gift then I would do it myself. Tell them that you do ot want to give and you dont expect to receive.