To be told to put in £20 to cover presents for team leads

[Hettiejane]

So I work in a large team, I've been emailed along with the rest of my team by one of my colleagues to put in £20 each to cover a gift for our 2 seniors, their manager and and the reception staff.
We've had our office night out with no money paid towards it and no gifts from senior management. The seniors and their manager are on significant more money than the rest of us and tbh I've had some issues with one of the receptionists being quite rude to me.
AIBU to think its a bit much to ask for? There's about 15 or so in the team.

I’d not be happy if my staff were required to put in for a gift for me. Say no.

I would be horrified if people I managed back in the day were instructed to do this. I bought my team gifts!

Thanks in previous teams ive always thrown in a fiver to maybe get flowers for the senior but then they've always put money towards our xmas dinner and drinks and also a small gift each.
Just seems strange for such a large amount especially for the very senior staff who earn a considerable amount more and have little direct involvement with the team

You should be doing a whip round for the staff who clean the offices and empty the bins not management. I wouldn't fancy working there if that's the norm!

I manage a team of 20 people I would be mortified. A couple of the team always arrange birthday presents for people and I've asked them loads of times to stop as it puts unfair pressure on people, which thank god they are now dropping and we are just going to do secret Santa moving forward

say no. Or ignore.

Or make a counter proposal for a fiver each for the cleaning staff?

Totally agree!
It seems like there is a collection every other week at the moment,
Id much rather give my money to our domestic staff

Way out of order!

Absolutely no way I'd do this (I also ignore my boss's annual request to contribute to the staff party for juniors and only give to collections for people I know well and like -im not that popular at work 🤣)

Like you're my colleagues not my kids

I would be refusing. I never expected my staff to buy me anything, and I bought a small gift for my reportees

As Op says management are on far more than their staff

Wow that’s insane. Receptionists sure but not senior managers and they’re ahit managers if they’re not putting a stop to this craziness.

Glad everyone is in agreement thought I was going mad!
Now dont know how to handle it in the office, one staff member seems to take responsibility for these things and will chase us up for money and write down people's names who have paid on the envelope, its ridiculous

Just don't do it. Can't believe you need to ask.

Can you share the wording of the email to us? And we will draft you a suitable response.
did you get asked/ what happened last year?

I can paraphrase it,
Basically one member said the managers have been working hard to support us this year and we should show our thanks, they have said to cover all the people we need to put in £20 each.
Last year I can't remember what we did, likely everyone gave into separate collections for reception and the managers, dont think we collected for the senior management though

In a workplace gifts should flow downwards, not up. YANBU.

They shouldn't be demanding money at all. They should be asking, if they want to take on organising, for contributions and then working out the split from there.

Out of curiosity, how many reception staff are there as £300+ being split between them could be a lot as well

3

Completely this. I paid a reasonable chunk for some drinks for my team's lunch. I'd be mortified if anyone junior to me was organising a whipround for me. If someone suggested it to me to collect for my seniors I'd assume they were joking. It's so weird.

Gifts flow down at work. We gift the support staff and only the support staff. They get pretty generous gifts once everyone pitches in a tiny bit.

Absolutely this. I’ve never heard of this anywhere I have worked.

Would you just not pay and avoid the whole thing?
Its difficult as certain staff feel its their responsibility to organize the collection

Support and premises, fair enough. They're not paid enough in the first place and generally get treated like crap.

Management, though? Fuck off.

3

So they're planning to spend at least £50 per person?

That's ridiculous in the current financial climate.

I wouldn't be contributing at all.