Work asking us to use our own money

[Tennyy]

Tomorrow we have a directorate away day. I have just returned from annual leave and emails from 3 different people have been sent out. These people have said we need to wear Christmas jumpers (I don’t have one anymore), buy out of our own money wrapping paper and reusable strong shopping bags to donate to the community.

I am annoyed because I am one of the lowest paid people who works in the organisation and people expecting us to use our own money when the organisation takes in millions of pounds a year. The organisation has the budget to supply these materials. Why do people think it is ok to spend your own money for work to benefit? It is doubtful you could claim as expenses as the finance team would question wrapping paper and shopping bags.

Bugger that for a lark. Can you cry off?

Were you meant to be working today? If not, could you say you got back too late to do that? It is really cheeky and I think you're within your rights to say you're one of the lowest-paid workers and can't just spend money on things like that at Christmas time.

I think maybe you'll be very ill tomorrow with food poisoning?

Just say "no" ? Or "fuck off" ?

YANBU but I think you can easily swerve this by just saying you've been on annual leave and didn't get the email until it was too late.

What's a directorate away day?

But to answer... YANBU.
Our multimillion $ company said they were having a Raffle to raise funds for a charity - great news, well done you'd think... but no, staff have been asked to buy/donate the prizes. Stingy fuckers won't even buy a few selection boxes to raffle off - too busy paying for their 1st class flights to the Caribbean to hold "strategy sessions" Fuckers 😠 😡

Rock up wearing whatever you want, and if anyone even notices you haven’t brought/asks where’s your wrapping paper and shopping bags, just reply “huh?” with a bemused look.

I once worked for a large airline that asked us to work for free for a month. Absolutely took the piss!

I wouldnt say anything or bring anything either.

If asked, just say you arent taking part as thats YOUR Christmas tradition!!

No that's out of order. Not everyone has an Xmas jumper hanging around for corporate whims.

What would happen if you were a Johovah's witness as they don't celebrate Christmas?

Run that by them.

Ignore it. It's unlikely that anyone will say anything and if they do, tell them you don't have a Christmas jumper and you have already used up your festive charity budget for this year.

Just wear a red or green or gold jumper if you have one. Ignore the other requests, you’ve been away so didn’t have time to organise.

If you dont have a red or green or gold jumper then wear any old jumper and a bit of tinsel like a scarf.

Xmas jumper is to make the day fun. Do you have a sparkly top? If so wear that. Or pin an zmas decoration to your top. Lighten up. It's just fun.
The wrapping paper and shopping bags sounds to me like you are going to wrap gifts for the community. Again a nice thing to do for Xmas. Lots of people do like to support charity at Xmas. Buying some wrapping paper and a bag for life is a couple if pounds and a nice way to help. But you don't have to.. ... don't you have some paper at home you can take in?
Maybe try to get un the Christmas spirit....you might have a good day.

It’s a cheek.
If you have to go just wear your normal jumper and a bit of glitter and ignore the other requests.

Un-Christmas spirit. Seems appropriate.

Getting volunteered by your employer to spend your own money "for the community" doesn’t seem very charitable. Good PR for the employer though.

I strongly agree with the OP. A bit of passive push back (not turning up with anything) might be in order.