To quit my job rather than do this?

[WelshRambler]

Hey all,

Looking for some unbiased advice. Every year my work hold a big event for a small charity the week before Christmas. It raises a lot of money and really makes a huge a difference to the charity. We literally raise more money for the charity in one hour than the charities get in a year. The charity changes every year.

This year I was asked to organise which charity we would partner with, which I duly did. I chose a lovely charity who were really excited. I then went on annual leave leaving both work and the charity with all details confirmed, travel organised etc. I’ve kept in touch with the charity on my time off and they’ve shared some really heart warming and heart wrenching stories that they would like to share. Everything seemed well.

Cue tonight. I’ve been asked by work to stand my charity down with one days notice because work has found a charity that they think will do better on socials.

AIBU to refuse to stand my charity down because 1) it’s wrong and 2) I’m on leave?

I’ve point blank messaged to say I won’t do it but honestly they might force me to. Also, if I don’t stand my charity down and they turn up I will be in big trouble.

I am going to fight this and genuinely would rather quit than do it.

Before anyone suggests it, it’s not possible to have both charities.

WWYD in this situation?

That's a rotten situation. Did someone in leadership approve your proposal? If so can't you say no can do, Melinda approved?

And/or can you say No, it's already gone out in their newsletter/they've approved their 2025 strategy factoring in our support/finance has underwritten a min donation/we've signed a binding agreement? Surely something formal is in place by now?

I quit a job because they told me to wear a polyester shirt and clip-on tie, so this is 100x more walkable for me. I think someone hasn't engaged their brain (and that's not you). Suggest that they keep the other one for next year and only delegate to someone if you will let the process run.

OMG! That is truly appalling OP! I would tell them that unless they go ahead with the plans that you've already set up, not only would I walk, but would take pleasure in ensuring that the story goes to the press. The person who made this decision should be ashamed of themselves.

Happy to!

Happy to donate a few £ to your charity if it can be done o line.

Thanks for the advice guys. I’m going to stand my ground tomorrow and refuse. My work operates via WhatsApp mostly so even when on leave I still get/reply to messages. I’ve already messaged the group saying I can’t do it. No reply to that in the last two hours. If they push I’m going to categorically say I WON’T.

If I end up quitting I’ll name them! Until then hopefully I can get work to change tack…

💪

Good luck!! Stand your ground.
Apart from being highly unethical this will be a huge crisis communications issue for your company given you’re prepared to blow the whistle.
Screenshot previous relevant WhatsApps and emails as evidence in case people delete them to blame you.

So heartening to hear of people like you standing up and doing the right thing. 👏

OMG! I'd point out the obvious - they are choosing a charity for social media because that's more important than ethics.

It's a form of greenwashing if the reason they chose that charity is merely for the publicity. I don't know if this is an offence - greenwashing on env info is, but it's a disgusting thing to do. The charity commission may be interested to learn about this.

I would not facilitate it at all. Stand your ground.

Good luck x

Point out to them that if or when the original charity has to announce on socials that this event is not happening and the reason why, the harm it will do will massively outweigh any supposed benefit from going with the new charity.

Presumably they have some social media? Very few charities these days don't, if any. The ones I have dealt with would already have been giving your company some helpful publicity by thanking them in advance publicly, and would be doing their best to promote the event. So, without being vindictive, they would have to go back online to explain to their supporters that they hadn't intentionally misled them. It doesn't take much for these things to be picked up and to go viral, particularly if your employers are at all well known.

Alas, the charity hasn’t been announced on socials yet. We announce on the day.

I would go back and say it simply won’t show the company in a good light if they stand a charity they have been working with down on one days notice to infill with another charity and it’s appalling behaviour.

I suspect they've told the other charity they can do it and haven't told them about the original charity. Either way, one charity is going to be upset as they will have organized someone/stories to share.

I agree with your stance, it's just there's no easy option now as someone will have to be disappointed.

Keep a written record of everything and if push goes to shove approach one of the redtops.

You could also subtly suggest that, if you have to quit your job, you will have nothing to lose in helping the small charity let its supporters know about the change in arrangements.

Forward the correspondence you’ve had with the charity (including the stories) on to whoever has asked you to say no to them, and just put that you can’t do it as it’s all already arranged as per below.

Des your company have Values that they publish? Something like fairness, transparency, courage?

asj how reneging on a charity at the last minute espouses those values? How will that reflecting the company? How will it make employees feel

Have you actually replied? Otherwise as other poster said, don't reply. You are on AL.

I’m going to do this. The correspondence includes emotional photos/stories from the charity.

Whats in this for the other Sr Manager - do they have any family or financial conflict of interest with the 2nd charity?

Yes, it was via WhatsApp on a small group chat. I replied almost instantly because I was so shocked. I said I can’t do it I spoke to X (the founder of the charity) today to confirm the details and they are so excited to be taking part.

What a dreadful thing they want you to do. I can completely understand why you would prefer to resign. Hopefully they back down - keep proof of how you have communicated with management in getting the charity agreed.

very boring but can you afford to lose your job in whichever way that might happen? You would need qualified legal advice on what if any employment law rights you have. Instinctively and morally it feels this should breach contract and be constructive dismissal or unfair dismissal if you are sacked. However that doesn’t mean it actually is the law. Even if it is that will take time to prove anything.

How easily would you find a new job and do contacts matter and any references matter.

I think your best chance here to go hard on potential reputation although damage.

One post on X, from the charity or anyone who potentially knows about the previous plan, could do viral.

Ask management if they are comfortable with the fact that they are leaving themselves wide open to the accusation that they are untrustworthy, have screwed over a charity, who are largely dependenton fundraising for their survival, who will now lose out on money to provide support to the most vulnerable in society. Furthermore, they left them with too little notice to make alternative plans, and now those the charity supportive will be leave without food/shelter/support etc.

If the company you work with has an corporate mission, purpose and values statements - cite them too etc.

Ask if your legal/compliance/conduct teams have signed off on this last minute change and confirmed that it falls either acceptable risk parameters and have a plan in the event of reputation damage, loss of customers, erosion of trust, potential impact on revenue etc.

I would lay it on thick.

No I don’t think they do. I believe they saw it in the local press a while back.

I think they believe it could potentially be spun into a running campaign for the company to get behind, maybe get some PR for the company as well…