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

But it is a hassle. I don't want to be bringing in bags of food to the office on my 40 min walk to office.

I'm happy to contribute cash. Just because I don't want to encumber myself with bags of groceries on my commute to the office, it doesn't mean I don't want to contribute.

THat is the way of charity, I'm afraid.

Statistics bear out that it is the poorer among society that give more generously to charities, while those with real money or notoriously and shockingly stingy.

Others in the office may give/do much more for their chosen charities than your £1 pack of biscuits. Whilst you're judging other people's lunches someone else might be thinking 'why waste so much time doing xyz in your free time when you could be volunteering'. Charities shouldn't be pressuring and given your age you likely have less financial commitments than most in the office. This is the most expensive time of year.

If my employers told me that I was “supposed to” donate to a charity of their choice I would find that jarring. If they want to do that with the company money, go ahead. But don’t force me into donating to your choice of charity……. all so that the company can pat themselves on the back, probably post on their socials about how generous them and their employees are.

I give to lots of charities, I do voluntary work…… I also enjoy spending my own money on a coffee and a sandwich at lunchtime. And I absolutely won’t feel guilty about not buying a £1 packet of biscuits because my employers told me it was expected of me.

You've used we several times but then say you've taken charge because everyone else ignores it.

They can give as they shop at the supermarket or not. They don't have to be shamed into it at work.

Outrageous, spending their own money how they choose! I involuntarily donate 50% of my salary to the government via taxes, a not insignificant portion of which goes on benefits payments to families in need, I certainly don't feel any obligation to donate more when there is already an excessive safety net in place in this country (in my opinion). I wouldn't make mean comments out of the blue while walking past the box (if that really happened) but I might say something if I was being badgered into donating or made to feel guilty for not donating. OP sounds very judgey and over-invested in this just because she is organising it so it's probably putting people off if that attitude is coming through at work. All this 'breaks my heart' stuff...unless you yourself have donated every spare cent you have you shouldn't be judging others, it's not your money, not your business. FWIW I regularly donate to charities of my choice and I'll buy stuff to throw into the endless collection boxes at work despite my views as outlined above since I can easily afford it and if colleagues have put effort into organising a collection I want to support them even if I'm not passionate about the cause itself, but if people choose not to that should 100% be respected without any judgement.

Exactly. Working or poorer people supporting those in need (see also the Lotto) whilst our governments do nothing. And we're told to pat ourselves on the back when we do it.

Saying nasty things is unnecessary and mean of your work colleagues. But you can't criticise the lack of donations without knowing the full story.

My son's school have been collecting donations for the food bank in the run up to Christmas, but I haven't donated. Every time I go to the supermarket I put something in the food bank box, and I give a significant amount to a variety of charities every month. I can't face faffing around finding stuff to put in my son's rucksack which he'll probably forget to put in the collection anyway!

Seems legit.

I think there is some element of ‘giving fatigue’ in a climate of fewer and fewer payrises and ever increasing costs.

I think while the company initiative to donate was well intentioned, anything that feels like enforced giving is doomed to fail. Many of your colleagues may already donate to or volunteer at causes that they actually care about - and I appreciate that while you feel this one is worthy, the causes they already donate to (or the additional people they may be supporting but not publicising) simply mean more to them.

I am of the opinion that it’s fine for the company itself to make a donation should it wish to, but it should not require employees to do so.

I think you should walk away from this and donate privately if you want to. But leave your colleagues to donate to whoever/wherever they wish.

I can't stand in-work pressure to donate to charity - I'll decide which charities I want to donate to myself thank you. And I certainly don't want my employer using my money/donations to big up their social media posts about how much they do for the community/society/charity or to reduce their tax liability.

Exactly. If I'm in the supermarket I'll pick up a few extra things and put them in the donation box. I really couldn't be arsed carrying it into work.

You do you, let them do them. I give to charities, but they are ones of my choice. Charity giving is a choice. 🤷‍♀️

You can’t change or fix your colleagues.
Next year just make your own donation personally.
Who arranged this?

*edit starts here.

ok just saw your other posts.
So you took charge. That’s your mistake right there, OP.

Next year say nothing - not a peep about it.

let them donate or not donate.
slag it off or not slag it off.
nothing to do with you.

Personally I don’t like performative charity giving so it would probably get a cold shoulder from me too.

The nasty comments are hard for you to hear, but it’s a free country and people can say what they like.

learn from this.

Another part of this picture is organisations trying to get reputational benefit from charitable donations they haven't actually made themselves. Sometimes it's employers. Other times it's things like supermarkets. Either way, it's an example of an imbalance. The ordinary people are the ones expected to give, while those with more resources such as their employers or large corporations take credit.

It's suggested by marketing and then organised by people in the office

It's so hard to take comments like that seriously isn't it?

Charity mitherer - "and all those people will think nothing of going to the pub"
Weary charity mithered person - "ahh, so what are you having for christmas dinner, toast sandwiches and donating the money saved, how lovely"
Charity mitherer - "ermmmm........"

Donating/expecting people to donate and observing what people donate is always fraught with problems, whatever it is for

Yes...like when shops ask you at the till if you want to round up to the nearest pound for charity...makes me really irritated, all so they can boast about how much they raise for charity.

"It's suggested by marketing "

😂😂😂

I think you need to realise that not everyone has to agree with, and support the same charities and causes that you do. Food banks are political hot potatoes, and there’s a lot of misconception about who can access what and when.

Whilst what you’ve organised is a fantastic initiative (in my opinion), it’s hard for people because charities really do step up the pressure at this time of year and it can become exhausting. It’s not possible to give to everyone. I wouldn’t give to a foodbank at work (personally). Any and all donations I make, are made discretely, and I wouldn’t consider taking food into work just to ‘appear’ as though I care. That said, it’s still a great initiative because the next person might appreciate the convenience of being able to grab something else at lunch.

Everyone is different and that’s what makes the world interesting.

Maybe marketing should organise it themselves instead of just suggesting it.

Might be charity fatigue. It gets jarring after a while. Were I worked it was constant. If it wasn't sponsoring someone, it was foodbanks, buying uniforms, Xmas boxes.
Xmas is a struggle as it is and ontop of that charity requests increase

Marketing? What does that tell you about your employer’s motives? FGS. Let it go

Yep- suggested by marketing.

Quelle surprise!

Have nothing to do with this in the future, OP. You’re young and you have a kind heart. Do your own charity giving in private. Don’t do marketing’s job for them.