Page 11 | Collection for the boss... inappropriate?

mivona · 10/12/2021 21:16

As a public sector worker, I am astounded by this. I have never been asked to contribute to a boss's gift, except when they were leaving. That is so, so, so WRONG. Especially given the huge differential in salary between senior managers and staff.

In contrast, my current local authority is giving staff an extra day and £250 in thanks for keeping going during the pandemic. I am amazed at that too, but so grateful.

billy1966 · 10/12/2021 21:24

@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.

Kindly OP, I have never heard of a boss as young as you doing a fraction of that, or olderto be honest.

Be careful of doing too much and looking like an idiot for doing so.

I would step back a bit.

Too much is not good either.

lazyarse123 · 10/12/2021 21:30

On a much lower level, shop worker, we have a new colleague who's been with us for less than three months and last week asked me if i'd like to contribute to the card and gift he'd ordered for our boss. Er no if i wanted to buy something i would either do it on my own or ask if anyone wanted to join in before organising it. He seemed a bit shocked that everyone he asked said no. Such an arse licking bullshitter.
It's not often i don't get on with colleagues but this one is disliked by everyone.

carlyswirly · 10/12/2021 21:39

My boss is on £200k and I bought him a big tube of smarties for his birthday last month. He seemed happy enough.

There's no way in hell this would happen where I work. We collect for babies, weddings, big birthdays and leaving for everyone in equal measure.

Fedupofballs · 10/12/2021 21:39

I’m a public sector manager and would be truly embarrassed if my team did this. I also find the number of collections which go round quite horrendous, the point when I was asked to contribute to a collection for the birth of a grandchild was probably the most ‘out-there’ one. Where do you draw the line?!
At Christmas I’ll buy a round of drinks, or get a token gift such as chocolates, something to say thank you without being too OTT.

Gillimac37 · 10/12/2021 21:44

Met that type before..sadly. They will absolutely brown nose the boss and trample on those who don't matter to climb the ladder and get in their good books. They manage upwards...
I always ended up feeling obliged to give to 'fit in' but at the end of the day they delete u when u no longer have any.more use to them.
Ouch! Still raw emotion 😆
U care about the people in 20k. The colleague doesn't.
My take on it anyway!

PocketRocket12 · 10/12/2021 21:48

Completely inappropriate, you’re absolutely right OP.

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 10/12/2021 21:53

I suggested it once but it seems to be a regular thing now and a bit cringe I agree especially with salary

mellicauli · 10/12/2021 21:57

If this is public sector, I am surprised the boss would allowed to receive the gift.

SnozPoz · 10/12/2021 21:57

As another poster said, gifts flow down not up. It is totally inappropriate to give a gift upwards. I say that as someone who has worked somewhere where that would be regarded as corruption and as the wife of someone very senior in his company, who would feel very uncomfortable if this happened to them. That's not to mention the insensitivity of it all. That employee asking for it is immature and ill advised. You should give them a quiet word or two of advice

Duchess379 · 10/12/2021 22:47

@FatOaf

The boss (or the boss's toady) expects a gift from his staff? Is his name Kim Jong-un?

😂😆👍🏼

Speakuptomakeyourselfheard · 10/12/2021 23:11

I'd have just sent a message saying 'I really don't think this is appropriate considering most of the staff earn about £100k LESS than the boss?' If you want to stir up bad feeling this is the way to go!

whynotwhatknot · 10/12/2021 23:15

Of course its wrong but youre setting a bad precedent here by paying up-what happens next year or when youve left who will deal with that then

Mirw · 10/12/2021 23:30

I would buy a pair of Xmas sox and a bag of chocolate pennies. Make it a, oressie from everyone. If he is a decent boss, he will see the funny side and will put a stop to this himself.
If he doesn't, then call him out next year if he doesn't cough up for a, Xmas drink for all the staff... They bought you a gift last year type of thing. Gets them in the end.

But definitely no expectation that this at the bottom cough up for boss and definitely not after just 8 weeks. So very wrong...

Gillimac37 · 11/12/2021 00:23

@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.

Don't do so much. Think about your own family etc. When u multiply every generous gift by all the people u give to, that's a lot of money I'm sure. A token gesture now and again and lots of kindness and appreciation is what most people want from their boss.

chaosmaker · 11/12/2021 00:42

@Littlejuice

Always, always buy my whole team Xmas gifts. Just a bottle of wine or something but to say thanks.

As a senior manager however, and in my view well paid despite long hours, I do not expect or wish to receive one (public sector)

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 (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...

I have contributed and said to my team I'll put their shares in as team contribution as I am so conscious many of them struggling - but isn't this just really not recognising the situation of some people? Dear people on 20k please donate to buy someone on 120k a gift?

I'd say no, a gift is not a compulsory thing.... that's awful!

Angie1403 · 11/12/2021 00:53

@C8H10N4O2

Just to be clear - a senior manager's personal bank account details were provided with an instruction to staff to supply cash for the director?

Why on earth would anyone give them money? I can think of quite a few organisations where this would not even be allowed.

No need for stress; pass that beautiful email onto HR and the staff union rep and let them sort it out.

Kikibabes · 11/12/2021 03:24

@Wormsarecool

That’s pretty awful. You sound a great and considerate team leader.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻agreed x

Original poster

Littlejuice · 11/12/2021 06:24

I took the advice on here and discussed with the boss. Was right to do so. Also made me think about wider organisation ethics ( not so unlike number 10 where I work currently!) so has made me sit up a bit and challenge more

OP posts:

SolasAnla · 11/12/2021 07:23

@Littlejuice

I took the advice on here and discussed with the boss. Was right to do so. Also made me think about wider organisation ethics ( not so unlike number 10 where I work currently!) so has made me sit up a bit and challenge more

Soooooo ....

Are you worried about a video leak, fudged recollection, or the Fuzz turning up...

Go on, spill all.

Hawkins001 · 11/12/2021 07:45

@Littlejuice

I took the advice on here and discussed with the boss. Was right to do so. Also made me think about wider organisation ethics ( not so unlike number 10 where I work currently!) so has made me sit up a bit and challenge more

As in 10 downing street London ? If so, what's your role ?

Pipsquiggle · 11/12/2021 07:54

@Littlejuice

I took the advice on here and discussed with the boss. Was right to do so. Also made me think about wider organisation ethics ( not so unlike number 10 where I work currently!) so has made me sit up a bit and challenge more

@Littlejuice Well done.

Did you speak to the big boss or the new employee who had organised the collection?

If it was the big boss - was he mortified?

silverstrawberry · 11/12/2021 08:30

This is AWFUL!only two months what are they getting a gift for?doing their job? I was pretty shocked this week to ask to contribute to our boss for a present and also given the amount that I'm requested to give I was gobsmacked

NoSquirrels · 11/12/2021 08:34

@Littlejuice

I took the advice on here and discussed with the boss. Was right to do so. Also made me think about wider organisation ethics ( not so unlike number 10 where I work currently!) so has made me sit up a bit and challenge more

Bloody well done! I know it was probably difficult to speak up especially if you’re the only one but actually there’s nothing wrong with being visible sometimes on these situations. And if it turns out your organisation isn’t capable of listening & change you know you can look for somewhere that is.

PaulaTrilloe · 11/12/2021 08:55

Get someone unidentifiable not working there to deposit 1p and add "ghost of Christmas present Scrooge" as the reference?!