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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Sponsorship requests at work

35 replies

PandaWatch · 27/04/2012 12:45

This morning the boss of my firm started circulating a sponsorship form for a sponsored walk he is doing to raise money for his kids' private school. I have no problem with a discreet email linking to a just giving page or similar but this was literally, in an open plan office, "here's my sponsorship form - sponsor me". Given how none of us here are exactly rolling in it (except him and two others at the top) and it is a very personal cause to him, AIBU in thinking that this was a wholly inappropriate way to go about things?

OP posts:

hiddenhome · 27/04/2012 12:47

Happens all the time where I work. There's often notices up asking for sponsorships.

They also ask for a lot of collections for people - leaving, birthday, wedding anniversary, the dog has died etc.

DrunkenDaisy · 27/04/2012 12:51

My boss has just done one too. And it's on one of those web pages, where you can see who's pledged what and kind of name and shame's those who don't by their omission.

Original poster

PandaWatch · 27/04/2012 12:51

I don't mind so much people "putting it out there" but it was the way he just shoved the forms in our faces, which made me feel like I had no choice. To be honest, if he hadn't done that, I wouldn't have sponsored him because (a) if I sponsored everyone I know everytime they do something I would have no money left and (b) there are, in my opinion, far worthier causes which I do give to.

I'm in a proper grump now!

OP posts:

HeathRobinson · 27/04/2012 12:59

Lose the form.

EdithWeston · 27/04/2012 13:00

This used to happen all the damned time in the days when everything was done on paper. So there are many people who will see it as a totally normal thing to do.

Having a colleague with um an individual approach to inter-personal relations isn't uncommon.

SoldeInvierno · 27/04/2012 13:05

ignore and say, "gosh, I am already sponsoring something many similar for my kids school. Isn't it funny?"

Heyyyho · 27/04/2012 13:06

I know what I would do with it if he handed that form to me...

5Foot5 · 27/04/2012 13:09

People circulate sponsorship forms for various things where I work but there is never any pressure so I don't mind. However I would not be sponsoring someone doing a fundraiser for a private school. Why should you subsidise his kids expensive education?

QuintessentialShadows · 27/04/2012 13:10

A grown man doing a walk.

Tell him,
"Sorry sir, if you were bungee jumping or walking to the top of Mt Snowdon, I might consider sponsor you, but I am not paid enough to sponsor your walk in the park."

Original poster

PandaWatch · 27/04/2012 13:58

One of the guys here who was given the form before me tried to do the whole "I'll do it later" excuse. Didn't work. He's literally hovering over people until they do it.

I'm really annoyed at myself for not just saying no but it's such an awkward position to be out in. Oh, and our appraisals/pay reviews are coming up so it's nicely timed for maximum pressure! Grr...

OP posts:

lynniep · 27/04/2012 14:01

I HATE that. Hate it. I ask for sponsorships once a year, and I use home made cakes as an incentive LOL! I then email everyone to tell them that they are welcome to a cake but a donation would be most welcome, and ask if anyone can donate anything from 10p upwards. Most folk leave a quid, some are very generous. I also leave the form on a back desk with the cakes and a little collecting pot. I also only ask for good causes that may be relevant to the people I'm asking.

margaritaaPracatan · 27/04/2012 14:01

Reminds me of that Catherine Tate sketch where the woman attacks the poor colleague when he doesn't sponsor her enough.

inmysparetime · 27/04/2012 14:09

My DH sent an email asking his colleagues to sponsor DS for a run, as he couldn't find a way to tactfully present them with a sponsor form.
It's a tricky one, I probably wouldn't donate to a private school, and I wouldn't push anyone who said no to sponsoring.
Surely the point of sponsorship is to make people aware of what the cause and event are so they can choose whether they want to donate.

Original poster

PandaWatch · 27/04/2012 14:21

I think an email is fair enough because it's not a direct confrontation (although lynniep's idea is inspired - mmmm...cake... ). And thinking about it, if it was for a better cause, I don't think I'd mind so much. But surely collecting for a school should be limited to people connected to the school and, at most, their close family members.

I actually feel a little bit like I've been politely mugged.

OP posts:

melezka · 27/04/2012 14:30

Use the same technique to get him to sponsor you for an underpaid employee fundraiser you're organising.

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 27/04/2012 16:29

I get fed up with being asked to sponsor people. Especially for cycle rides in China and running in America, things that are basically a holiday of a lifetime.

noinspiration · 27/04/2012 16:30

Major bug bear of mine. That and the compulsory charity things. You know the ones - pay to wear jeans, or pay a fine not to wear jeans i.e. pay to come to work kind of thing. I'm all for charity. I support lots of charities.... but I like to choose which ones for myself and pay by direct debit so the charity can claim the tax credit as well.

YADNBU

Gingefringe · 27/04/2012 16:45

at the Katherine Tate sketch - that's what I immediately thought of too.

I remember going round all my neighbours asking for sponsorship when I was young - I got the sponsors but was too embarrassed to collect the money after I had completed the event and my poor mum had to cough up the lot!

happyscouse · 27/04/2012 16:46

A lady in work has a son who goes to grammer school and he did loads of different sponsored events to raise money to go on one of the 'charity' trips of a lifetime in South America. Everytime we got stung with the sponsorship forms and even got asked to give up a Saturday Morning to do a supermarket bag pack,I managed to swerve that one.Anyway money got raised and he went had a fab time etc....fastforward to a week or two ago and we were talking about how we were going to help our kids through uni,most of us are going to find it a real struggle she pipes up that she has been putting his family allowance in an account since the day he was born so he will be using that.....the bag packers weren't happy!

Toughasoldboots · 27/04/2012 16:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/04/2012 16:51

Sorry to get all Socialist Worker Party on you but WTAF? You, his less wealthy employees, are supposed to sponsor him so that his wealthy arse can give his kids even more advantages.

My suggestion is, when he gives you the form, have charity stuff ready. Anything about building schools in Africa, Pakistan or similar. Shove them in his face and say, "well, all my budget for charitable donations goes to educate those girls who otherwise would have a life of misery and early death. Would you like to donate?". Cheeky sod.

happyscouse · 27/04/2012 16:57

oops forgot to say ,op YDANBU!

Original poster

PandaWatch · 27/04/2012 17:23

I've been getting waves of rage all afternoon! It is bloody cheeky isn't it?! I really resent it for exactly that reason MrsTP. I've basically just given him a contribution to his kids' education.

As for all these school things, I think the worst part of them is the sense of exclusion children will feel if they can't raise the "required" amount and will just feel that they don't look charitable enough.

OP posts:

TrollopDollop · 27/04/2012 17:26

YANBU. He is aksing you to sponsor him to raise money for his sons private school .

Original poster

PandaWatch · 27/04/2012 17:38

Yup

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