Page 10 | Collection for the boss... inappropriate?

SpeckledlyHen · 10/12/2021 19:25

@Gwenhwyfar

Sounds really bad. You also shouldn't really give out people's bank details.

who gave out someone's bank details? The OP was pretty clear to say that a new employee shared HIS OWN bank details..

Staffy1 · 10/12/2021 19:45

who gave out someone's bank details? The OP was pretty clear to say that a new employee shared HIS OWN bank details

It’s not that clear. Did the new director share his own bank details, or did the employer who he had employed previously and brought into this new job share the directors bank details?

CaveWoman1 · 10/12/2021 19:55

How arrogant & tone-deaf is that? “Hello, my minions. I am considerably richer than you. Therefore, here are my bank details, which you should pay into at the earliest opportunity. It’s alright, you can thank me later. Goodbye! Mwwwahha ha ha haaaa, mwwwahhaha……,” (Evil laughter continues over email for some time.)

SpeckledlyHen · 10/12/2021 19:57

@CaveWoman1

How arrogant & tone-deaf is that? “Hello, my minions. I am considerably richer than you. Therefore, here are my bank details, which you should pay into at the earliest opportunity. It’s alright, you can thank me later. Goodbye! Mwwwahha ha ha haaaa, mwwwahhaha……,” (Evil laughter continues over email for some time.)

Email from new starter yesterday sharing his Bacs details to all the staff (many of whom on a quarter of the director salary) saying it's nice if we do a bit of Xmas appreciation and collect for the boss...

What on earth is not clear about this? sharing his bacs details and asking for a collection.............................

SpeckledlyHen · 10/12/2021 19:58

@Staffy1

who gave out someone's bank details? The OP was pretty clear to say that a new employee shared HIS OWN bank details

It’s not that clear. Did the new director share his own bank details, or did the employer who he had employed previously and brought into this new job share the directors bank details?

Totally clear if you read it properly

Merryweather80 · 10/12/2021 19:59

I completely agree with what @Warblerinwinter has posted and her replies. It’s ludicrous all the time.

llangollen21 · 10/12/2021 20:08

Sharing bank details is so bad, I'd want never to share any confidential information with that person ever.

ChiefStockingStuffer · 10/12/2021 20:10

Inappropriate. A card should be enough; they don't need presents from the bottom of the food chain at work.

ThinWomansBrain · 10/12/2021 20:16

Within TWO months he has recruited a former toadying employee - good to see that there are such open recruitment policies in the public sector.
wouldn't have contributed

Gwenhwyfar · 10/12/2021 20:22

@Staffy1

who gave out someone's bank details? The OP was pretty clear to say that a new employee shared HIS OWN bank details

It’s not that clear. Did the new director share his own bank details, or did the employer who he had employed previously and brought into this new job share the directors bank details?

Yes, I understood that the new employee gave the director's bank details out, but maybe that was wrong then. Could be my own sexism that made me think the new starter was a woman collecting for a male boss so I understood 'his bank details' to mean the director's.

Gwenhwyfar · 10/12/2021 20:23

"Totally clear if you read it properly"

Nope. Not totally clear.

"We've had a new director for TWO MONTHS who has recruited one of his previous employees into team, this month. Email from new starter yesterday sharing his Bacs details to all the staff"

We don't know to whom 'his' refers.

nonamesleftatall · 10/12/2021 20:24

This is an intriguing topic.

I suppose I am middle/ senior management. I am an area manager looking after 20 people over 4 locations. I often buy coffees/ bacon rolls. Treat people to a sale/ sandwich for lunch. Take back sweets etc for the teams.

Last Christmas bought each person a gift. I also bought dominoes and drinks for the last day and organised quiz/ game. I have also got Chinese when preparing for audit and always ask if people want anything when I go to town.

Recently at a colleagues wedding I bought everyone at least one drink (some people wanted doubles) and not one person got me one back. I have also noticed when we e been put for curry nights for people’s birthdays etc… people have joked (I think) about how I should pay.

Recently we had a Christmas party and company gave a budget. I booked somewhere and paid the top up per person of £10 per head and additionally paid for cheese boards, Prosecco on arrival and wine for the table. Not one single person offered to buy me a drink. Granted on our WhatsApp group people thanked me etc. But just the gesture of a drink would have been nice.

I am only 30 with two children, a mortgage, lots of overheads etc. I work hard and often do things after hours in the evening. No one ever buys me a coffee etc.

It makes me feel a little sad. I do a lot for my teams.

Gwenhwyfar · 10/12/2021 20:27

"Recently at a colleagues wedding I bought everyone at least one drink (some people wanted doubles) and not one person got me one back."

Because it's a tradition for the boss to offer to pay a round and not the other way around. If there's a lot of people, most people will decline so as not to lumber the boss with a huge bill, but if we're a small group I always accept. I don't feel obliged to buy the boss a drink back and in most cases they would be embarrassed if I offered.

"I am only 30 with two children, a mortgage, lots of overheads etc."

The stop shelling out if money is tight. You give the impression money's no object.

starlight13 · 10/12/2021 20:33

I'm baffled by this as it's the wrong way round.
It is expected that the boss buys the thank you gifts for his staff.

Caffeinefirst · 10/12/2021 20:37

Slightly off topic but you can’t commit fraud just with sort code and account number. They are written on cheques so not secret data and people give them out all the time now for online payments. However having to send actual cash to this person’s account is wrong.

The lack on an open recruitment process and the fact that even those in senior roles feel that they cannot speak up unless someone else does as well seems wrong. Where’s the leadership in that?

bananafish · 10/12/2021 20:43

I’ve genuinely never come across that attitude or expectation in my career.

I can’t imagine the sort of director who expects a gift from their division.

I would be side-eyeing them so hard and would fully expect them to be taken aside by the HR head to explain how inappropriate it was, because someone needs to prick the bubble of megalomania.

I think you’ve done as much as you can, OP.

Gwenhwyfar · 10/12/2021 20:48

"Slightly off topic but you can’t commit fraud just with sort code and account number. "

You can set up a direct debit in their name, which they can cancel when they get the letter I suppose.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7174760.stm

Caffeinefirst · 10/12/2021 20:48

Sounds like the new starter is very keen to suck up to the person who gave him/her the job by organising grateful thanks from the employees. Sounds positively totalitarian!

Warblerinwinter · 10/12/2021 20:50

@nonamesleftatall

This is an intriguing topic.

I suppose I am middle/ senior management. I am an area manager looking after 20 people over 4 locations. I often buy coffees/ bacon rolls. Treat people to a sale/ sandwich for lunch. Take back sweets etc for the teams.

Last Christmas bought each person a gift. I also bought dominoes and drinks for the last day and organised quiz/ game. I have also got Chinese when preparing for audit and always ask if people want anything when I go to town.

Recently at a colleagues wedding I bought everyone at least one drink (some people wanted doubles) and not one person got me one back. I have also noticed when we e been put for curry nights for people’s birthdays etc… people have joked (I think) about how I should pay.

Recently we had a Christmas party and company gave a budget. I booked somewhere and paid the top up per person of £10 per head and additionally paid for cheese boards, Prosecco on arrival and wine for the table. Not one single person offered to buy me a drink. Granted on our WhatsApp group people thanked me etc. But just the gesture of a drink would have been nice.

I am only 30 with two children, a mortgage, lots of overheads etc. I work hard and often do things after hours in the evening. No one ever buys me a coffee etc.

It makes me feel a little sad. I do a lot for my teams.

Stop. Just stop. Or at least make it much more occasionally and really special reasons, You have your own finances and family to think of. You are subsidising your organisation out of your own pocket - literally you are paying your company in effect to work as a boss - why? It isn’t your role to reward your team members or try to be “kind” or liked by doing this. You are their boss not their best chum ( ok sometime you may be chums with one of them but that is different). The brutal truth is that your organisation won’t take a second thought to make you redundant etc if the bottom line of finance is not adding up. You won’t get a medal when when you retire for this. Most employees won’t even remember you did this once they’ve left your team. You are emotionally blackmailing yourself here and frankly trying to be kind to everyone is sending very mixed messages, as someone else has posted, when you do have to deliver tough messages around performance issues . You don’t get anyone doing it for you as most people realise this is a ridiculous thing to do. Please prioritise your own family, and if you do have spare cash, give to charities that really do help people in need that aren’t connected with your professional role.

Bebethany · 10/12/2021 20:54

@ ThinWomansBrain it goes on all the time… as you say ‘so much’ for equal opportunities!! Non existent 👹👹

Mandyjack · 10/12/2021 20:55

No way would I contribute, can't believe anyone would even ask. What an insult to those on a low salary

fatimashortbread · 10/12/2021 20:56

For a 'life event' like a wedding or a new baby present then I think the gifts flow both ways. The only work related event where all might contribute is a leaving or retirement gift. Christmas gifts flow down only (unless there is a Secret Santa) to thank your team for their hard work.

TurquoiseDragon · 10/12/2021 20:57

@NoSquirrels

I’d speak to HR.

You’ve identified it’s inappropriate.
You’ve raised it and got an unsatisfactory response.

It’s a HR matter.

I agree.

I spent years working in the MOD, and we never bought gifts for higher ups. Totally inappropriate, and if the unions got hold of it, they'd have a field day.

Mandyjack · 10/12/2021 20:58

You're a very generous boss!

Pinkrose1111 · 10/12/2021 21:10

Omg my company does this, whenever it's a manager's birthday everyone chips in a gift for them. I don't mind the junior managers because they're not as well paid, but when it's the director who is earning well into 6 figures it INFURIATES me. No no and NO.