To not contribute to maternity leave gift

[Stickystitch]

I've been in my job for just over 2 months and my manager is leaving in a few weeks to have a baby. It's been announced today that there will be a collection for her gift and to send money via PayPal pot or Monzo (it will be known who has contributed and who hasn't).

My work is remote - I've only met my manager in person once at a company team day, I don't know her at all, she never talks to me apart from half an hour every fortnight where she just dryly goes through the motions of a one to one - in my opinion she had checked out of her job ages ago as she knew she was going on leave. She's not really made any effort with me at all, asks me to do HR admin things that are really her job, and hasn't even done half of my onboarding which has made me look bad in meetings when I haven't known pretty basic parts of the job. Haven't had a great first impression.

I still have to contribute some money to the collection don't I, or I'll look bad? How much? I'm broke and really can't be bothered. Am I bad person?

Not clear which way 'Unreasonable' and which way 'Reasonable' is so haven't voted, but I wouldn't put anything in.

I mean, I think a gift for going on maternity leave is a bit odd anyway, but that aside, no-one sensible would expect anyone to contribute to a gift for someone they don't really know, or have any relationship with, whatever the occasion.

I hate these rather impersonal schemes. I would say from your description of your circumstance it would almost be odd to contribute. The contribution could only be seen as connected to your personal job status, nothing to do with well wishing the person, so is sort of fake looking.