To be a bit embarassed by my boss' lack of subtlty?

[DrSeuss]

I go on maternity leave in two weeks (Yay!). Last Thursday, it was announced that, unless people leave/retire of their own accord, there will be redundancies at my workplace. Yesterday my boss did what she always does on the occasion of someone leaving/having a baby/marrying, namely put an envelope in everyone's pigeon hole, with my name on it, the recipient's name, a date by which it must be returned and how much to put in the envelope (£5). I have always found this annoying and am quite embarassed that it was done on my behalf, especially in the light of Thursday's news. One of my colleagues is a single mother, one has a disabled wife and so only one income, all are worried for their jobs. Am I alone in finding this a)tactless and b) odd? I would far rather they took up a collection and people put in what they wished. Any gift would be lovely, no matter how small.

If this is the way it has always been done then obviously they will do the same for you. But, i hate collections where the amount is decided in advance, and not left up to the givers.

The timing is a bit unfortunate but I am sure no one begrudges you the gift, your colleagues know that it is hardly your fault.

eek. Yes, I'd find that very weird - doesn't your boss realise that some people cannot afford a fiver ever time someone leaves/has a birthday/gets married?

My boss got to use her label maker. She got to organise and tell people what to do, how and when. My boss is a very happy woman!

I think £5 is a lot to put into a collection. At my work, the person who works closest to the one the collection is for goes round with an envelope and people put in what they can afford. I would never put in £5 tbh as I just can't afford that, no matter how much I like the person. Not ideal to demand £5, especially in the current climate. Could you get the envelopes out, cross out the £5 and write 'voluntary contribution'? Or ask your boss to do this, with her new label maker?