To be really pissed off about my office's attitude towards our food bank donation

[LookingForAHandHold]

Every year we run an office collection for a local food bank. This year we're doing one for families with nothing and young children.

So far im the only one who has really donated. I understand times are tough, but it's £1 for a pack of biscuits in Iceland.

People are making horrible comments too, about the branded names etc and the ungrateful brats who don't deserve it. It's for young children. It just breaks my heart.

I'm so close to taking it all home and donating it myself

I think it's better to do these things privately. You can't change how they feel about it.

The nasty and rude comments are horrible and uncalled for.

But the not donating… I haven’t donated to our office one, I wonder whether there’s someone like you judging me? Someone who doesn’t know that I’ve donated food to the school food bank collection, the scouts food bank collection, that I’ve given money to the local toy bank Christmas drive and the local DV charity Amazon wish list. That I spend my “spare” time volunteering for three different charities.

I have a limit, we all do.

Yabvu.

I hate being told by others to donate to charity

We have one of these at work too. I'm happy to give to food banks and do regularly, but to donate to the work collection I will have to remember to go buy stuff then carry it into the office via public transport and a 15 minute walk, whereas at the supermarket I can just pop it a box as soon as I've paid for it. So I'll do that and hope nobody is judging me at work for not bringing stuff in!

Honestly if they just weren't donating, that would be one thing. It's the not donating and making horrible comments that's doing my head in

I think pressure to donate in the work place is deeply uncomfortable. Whether it's for gifts for a team member or a charity collection.

People may have other causes they wish to donate to,.or already donate to.

I think YABU. This is inappropriate for an office.

Chugging is unacceptable, whether it involves knocking on peoples doors, harassing people in the street, or guilt tripping them in the office.

You are free to donate to whichever charity you like, but other people also want to choose where their money goes. People are sick of being inundated with charity requests wherever they go.

I don't think one email is creating that pressure though. The email said "please donate if you can" - hardly begging

If businesses want to donate to causes they can, what they shouldn’t do is try and guilt their staff into doing so. It’s not up to you or the management to decide how people should spend their own money.

Charity begins at home OP. I know you (probably) mean well but you’re just being self-righteous.

You sound annoying , if you want to give, you give. You should respect the fact others don't. Regardless of it being a £1 pack of biscuits or not.

I would never donate to a work collection. It's performative and your employer will take the credit. I give monthly to a number of charities of my choice. You do not get to decide who i donate to and chastise me for refusing to spend my money where you demand.

I just find it jarring that the same people who get takeaway lunches everyday won't donate even £1

The irony.

You're criticising people buying themselves food for not donating to a food bank....

How dare they buy themselves lunch!

I don't take too kindly to being forced to donate to charity. I wouldn't get involved in virtue signalling at work but would continue to quietly support the charities I already donate to.

Maybe they’re being defensive because they suspect they’re being judged or feel under pressure to donate?

That's really mean. Is there someone in charge of it, that could push people a little bit? Guilt trip them? I'd say things like baby formula and baby products would be Good x

people aren’t obliged to donate to causes they don’t want to. I don’t donate to food banks. It’s a choice I’ve made. I do donate money to charities however

No need for the horrible comments though

I think people get charity fatigue. I know I have. At work we have a giving tree, a food bank, a coat bank, a toy bank, a homeless bank and various charity concerts and sales to raise money. You cannot move for posters. This is much more than last year or any other year.

In the meantime I'm going through a difficult time and lots of others are struggling. In previous roles I was used to my line manager treating us to Christmas lunch. For years we've not even had a box of chocolates between us ...

People often donate more if they see a full donation box, can you put more items in yourself. No one needs to know. Are the company donating themselves.

That would be massively inappropriate.

I will bring more but I've already spent £90, if I go too much further I'll then compromise my own finances

People shouldn’t be encouraged to donate to charity just for turning up at work. If people don’t want to support it, maybe try listening to their reasons why or just respect their position. It’s not up to you to dictate take they should go to Iceland and spend a pound. Their pounds are not your business. Charity is a choice, and maybe they choose other charities they have a connection to.

OP said it wasn't the "not donating" that was the problem but the nasty comments about poor people being "unworthy".
@LookingForAHandHold I may have misunderstood but are you living in Iceland? I have to check because to my knowledge generally speaking, poverty is low in Iceland🤷‍♀️

@arcticpandas haha noo, living in wales, shopping at Iceland 🤣