Should employees be asked to contribute to going away gifts?

[blueskyday12]

AIBU to think that when someone leaves your company, employees should not be asked to put money towards to going away gift (vouchers, gift card, etc)?

Just that really. I think its lovely to sign a card or e-card to wish an employee well on in their new job, but I don’t think its right to put people in an awkward situation of having to choose to spend their discretionary income on a gift for someone who is leaving the company.

A while back, I had a team member leave and I had organised an e-card to collect signatures. After we had a goodbye zoom call and gave the employee the e-card, the manager of the employee who was leaving (who had a senior role) emailed the team saying that he decided to purchase a £100 Selfridges gift card for the employee who was leaving and told us we could PayPay him if we wanted to contribute to this gift (that he had already bought). I didn’t.

We then proceeded to have 3 other team members leave, and since everyone knew that the one employee got this large gift card, I’m sure the others thought they would receive the same.

I know you can argue that you don’t have to contribute to these things, but I am of the opinion that it shouldn’t be asked, as it puts people in a situation where it will be known wether or not if they contributed by the collector, who might be your manager. I’ve also been asked to contribute to the 30th birthday present of an employee, which I thought was odd. What are your thoughts?

It's very cheeky of the manager to give the gift and then ask for money retrospectively!

For one thing he presumably presented the gift from himself / the company which is not fair if others are being asked to foot the bill. Also what if it's a big team and people contribute more than £100? The manager would not only have taken all the credit but would actually be in profit!

That's without raising the issue of people feeling pressure to be generous because their manager will know who's contributed how much.

I'm with you OP, do away with it all!

I think this 'everybody contributing' has stopped.
Or I've worked in really such small companies of late.

The last company I left well enough to receive a leaving gift (orchid which still hasn't committed suicide) and what I actually believed was a 'thank you' card, which, turned out to be an M&S gift voucher from the very same line manager. (I don't open this stuff on leaving so it was a good couple of weeks before the supposed leaving card turned out to be nowt more than the M&S gift card...)

I think whip rounds have been done away with.

I remember doing a maternity prezzie last year at another small company, which while the woman put much of it in the bin, noone really wanted to contribute to. The bosses of another small co. just made a joke of buying her booze after delivery, when she was probably the biggest tee-totaller going.

An anonymous collection envelope is ok. I was at a school one year and 17 teachers were leaving at the end of term. Some people I hardly knew and a couple I didn't like, so I ducked those but gave to the ones I liked.

On the fence with this one. I can see this might create unnecessary pressure. I agree generally it makes it awkward if it's initiated by a manager, it's as if everyone was expected to contribute.

However, there are other ways of doing it. My colleagues usually organise collections and circulate details of where to send money if anyone wishes to do so. There's no pressure or expectation to contribute a specific amount. I organised many collections before, for big birthdays, engagement/wedding celebrations, new baby, get well, bereavement. Sometimes people paid in £1, sometimes £4, sometimes £10. It varies. Some people don't take part and it's ok. Usually the big boss is the tight arse though which I find frustrating. One one occasion everyone paid in more than him and I remember being angry about the fact my junior team did despite earning five times less than him. But it is what it is - everyone decides for themselves.

But whilst I think it's nice to celebrate with your colleagues (or show your sympathy, depending on the occasion), leaving collections are odd. Surely if the business rates the employee, HR could arrange flowers, chocolates or another gift and the company should pay then. I can never quite understand why colleagues should be expected to contribute to a leaving gift for someone likely going on to a better paid job. These collections are the only ones I never pay into, in fact.

I think this 'everybody contributing' has stopped.

Nope. Someone left my work today, and those who wished to were able to contribute towards a gift for her.

Years ago I worked somewhere where 2 people were leaving at the same time. One popular, the other universally despised. Two collection envelopes and cards at reception, one collection envelope was empty so a busybody decided to take some money collected for the popular employee and buy a gift for the hated one. WTAF!!

It sounds lovely but in effect you end up just buying your own gift for every birthday. But over 30 occasions so it seems endless. Even if it’s £1 each time you still only get £30 on your birthday so No net worth and lots hassle. Often babies and marriages and leaving it all adds up. If there is someone whom had little contacts or family or friends and the office card and token gift is the only one they why then yes that’s different. Everyone else can live without.