My job is having me contribute $100 minimum to a charity of their choosing. I have no problems with donating to charity, I do it all the time. This is a good charity and one that I would normally support. However, I have a problem with the fact that it's being mandated. Is this illegal or something that happens all the time?
2007-08-20 10:09:08 · 6 answers · asked by harlequin_sage 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
My company supported United Way Charities...
when they came for my 'donation' it was presented to me as:
'' all of your department is supporting UW...so I expect that you will too.'' When I said that I support the Red Cross, he threatened to holdup/lose my paycheck. I said no and meant it. No further fuss was made.
I no longer work there,either.
2007-08-20 12:31:29 · answer #1 · answered by sirbobby98121 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So long as the charity is not religious, gender, or race based (which I would argue is a form of discrimination if you were terminated for your failure to donate) or perhaps the donation is to a political group (to which there are federal campaign regulations), generally private employers can do what they want. They could reduce your pay by $100 a month and just donate that lump sum to the charity. Why don't they? Probably because they want to look like they "give back" to the community as a whole. But I think it's pretty bad PR to have a "must donate" policy.
Most states are employment "at will." Meaning either you or your employer can terminate you for no reason or any (non-discriminatory) reason at all. So their reason could be "you didn't contribute."
(The only other way I could think that this is illegal is if it's an accounting scheme intended to defaud the government from income taxes... because it's deductable, you look like you're making more money and donating to charity... but the government should get their hands on money through the increase payroll tax.)
So I think it's neither illegal nor something that happens all the time. I think employers encourage charitable giving by sponsoring events, providing matching funds, etc. But to mandate a certain amount be donated to a certain charity seems strange.
2007-08-20 17:47:07 · answer #2 · answered by Perdendosi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you they can't mandate it, but I suppose you'd get on somebody's s... list. Give a little and to the charity of your choice. Maybe that'll work.
2007-08-20 17:16:11 · answer #3 · answered by Irish 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Companies are trying to push their socialist agenda. I used to be forced to donate to United Way and I would just do a very tiny amount but it looks like they gave you no choice. I would talk to HR.
2007-08-20 17:14:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
will you lose ur job if you don't donate the money? This does seem wrong, was this ever mentioned in any of the paperwork that you signed when you began employment with this company?
2007-08-20 17:22:39 · answer #5 · answered by Ash 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would be very, very pissed if my company made me do anything particular with any of my money. If it's not illegal, it should be.
In the end, though, you have the right to tell them that you won't do it, and if they want to fire you over it, you're better off not working for them anyway.
2007-08-20 17:17:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋