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How to Avoid Giving Donations at Work

October 19, 2010 RSS Feed Print

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Andrew G. Rosen

The office is supposed to be a place where we make money, not spend it. But between Girl Scout cookies, holiday wrapping paper, office birthdays, and charity races, I’m constantly asked to crack open my wallet.

Sometimes I have the money, sometimes I don't; sometimes I want to give, sometimes I don't.

The collector might have a secret motive and not be as charitable as he or she seems. But even if their motives are 100 percent pure, I believe the office is not a place for money collections.

[See Why Employees Should be More Grateful for Perks.]

A few ways to handle office donations and money contributions if you want to opt out:

Just Say 'No.' Most people have big trouble with this tiny two-letter word. No one has a handle on your finances except for you. If things are swell, then give to your heart's content. But if you're feeling the pinch and having to make adjustments at home (cutting premium cable channels, dining in on Saturday evening, etc.) then simply say 'no.' It’s really that easy.

Say You Already Gave. Tell the person collecting that you have already done something for the individual or organization in question. Or, if you want to take a zero-risk approach, let them know that you recently gave X to charity Y and are tapped out.

Have a Blanket Policy. When you start a new job and have a fresh beginning, you can establish the ground rules from the start. For example, tell the office butterflies that you do not participate in money collections because of personal beliefs.

[See more workplace advice at U.S. News Careers.]

Your company already has a million rules. How about one more that stops co-workers from soliciting for a dollar here and a dollar there? It’s not always easy to say no, but sometimes it’s the best choice. The best part is—and don’t forget it—the choice is yours.

Andrew G. Rosen is the founder and editor of Jobacle.com, a career advice blog. He is also the author of How to Quit Your Job.

Tags:: careers,; corporate culture

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I worked for a major, major car company that also had a "make your life miserable if you don't give to UW thru your paycheck". So, what we did was sign up for .50 a paycheck and then in about three months cancel the withdrawl from our check. We did it every year. UW got to say 100%, we kept our job and less "on the job abuse" and we all went home at night with the fantasy we played the game well. (Ick

EJ Denkle of MI 12:18PM December 27, 2010

Why do news venues continue to employ reporters with poor ethics that suggest that you lie?
The United way, did ME ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD, except give me phone numbers that were in the phone book. The Dalton Georgia United Way is a joke and a waste.
Boy scouts? Let your folks support your big time in the woods, im not footing the bill.

Gary Painter of GA 6:46PM November 09, 2010

our company right now is soliciting donations for--wait for it--our own company. we have a charitable section that handles expenses and purchases durable medical equipment, new instruments for different areas of the hospital, etc. they're doing a one week blitz and giving us forms that must be filled out and returned--either telling them how much to take out of our check, how much time we will be willing to donate to solicit donations from outside companies, or declining to participate at all. but no matter what the answer is, we have to tell them something--on paper. if it's not turned in, it's grounds for disciplinary action. wtf is all i can say.

yellowbelly of MI 1:55PM November 09, 2010