Having whip rounds in work - Opinions?
Discussion
Orchid1 said:
Am I being a miserable git?
Hell no! A few months ago a good work colleague and friend left the company I work for so we (his immediate team) all chipped in to buy him a Kindle reader. When it's about £10 each, that's no big deal IMO. I don't mind contributing if it's a) someone I know; b) someone I actually work(ed) with; and c) someone I actually like and/or respect.
If it's someone I barely know/have had little contact with, I'd maybe chip in a quid or two, maybe. Anyone else... "hell naw"
t. They should be paying me.Never have done so far and I may do if I work in a team, but as a consultant/contractor, I don't usually have a team or work in one, they are not my friends/colleagues, Im in for a job and then out again and Im usually treated that way, so they never do a whip round for my birthday, etc as many don't even know my name.
If I were to make friends with them, then not a problem, but it would be something along the lines of buying them a drink after work.
I used to constantly get asked by people sat near me for a whip round for their colleagues, but I don't work with them, won't get invited to the night out, etc... the only time they talk to me is when they wanted something, up till that point classed me as an outsider, ignored and not part of their team.
That was after I even tried to be friendly, etc asking everyone now and again if they would like a coffee as Im doing a coffee run to Costa, etc... was it ever reciprocated? Nope, I was always 'forgotten' off their list.
If I were to make friends with them, then not a problem, but it would be something along the lines of buying them a drink after work.
I used to constantly get asked by people sat near me for a whip round for their colleagues, but I don't work with them, won't get invited to the night out, etc... the only time they talk to me is when they wanted something, up till that point classed me as an outsider, ignored and not part of their team.
That was after I even tried to be friendly, etc asking everyone now and again if they would like a coffee as Im doing a coffee run to Costa, etc... was it ever reciprocated? Nope, I was always 'forgotten' off their list.
We have them here for significant birthdays, leaving or babies.
If I know and like the person, I give generously and sign the card, in fact I occasionally buy them something individually if it is someone I really like. If I don't know them or don't like them then I do not contribute or sign the card. I am probably on a 50/50 ratio of contributing or not.
If I know and like the person, I give generously and sign the card, in fact I occasionally buy them something individually if it is someone I really like. If I don't know them or don't like them then I do not contribute or sign the card. I am probably on a 50/50 ratio of contributing or not.
What annoys me is when it is the same person. We have had a whip round for one individual over the course of about 4 years for :
Getting married
Getting divorced - messy split so needed flowers !
Having twins - dont ask but turkey baster is a clue
Then, ultimately leaving
FFS
Sufficed to say I quickly cottoned on and now decline unless its a worthy cause !
Getting married
Getting divorced - messy split so needed flowers !
Having twins - dont ask but turkey baster is a clue
Then, ultimately leaving
FFS
Sufficed to say I quickly cottoned on and now decline unless its a worthy cause !
RizzoTheRat said:
I worked at one place where someone left and then came back again 6 months later. There were muttered comments about getting him to return the leaving present 
I did this (but after 2 months). First day back, did an office email saying I can't return the leaving present (I'd eaten the edible portion), but I will stand a round next door at lunchtime.Worked well. No resentment.
Sick fed up of them, but the last two were the worst,
1- Was told by the "collector" the "Recipient" had chosen what gift she wanted to receive (not cheap)
2- "collector" took the money to put in the collection envelope & made a note of who put in & value, following thank you email from recipient was not sent to everyone in office only to those who had put in, so obviously got the list.
1- Was told by the "collector" the "Recipient" had chosen what gift she wanted to receive (not cheap)
2- "collector" took the money to put in the collection envelope & made a note of who put in & value, following thank you email from recipient was not sent to everyone in office only to those who had put in, so obviously got the list.
They annoy me a little bit at times especially the 'sponsor me for charity' things, but if its for someone I don't know or like I just sign it from 'bob' or 'gary' using my left hand but don't chip in.
My team was made up of 12 people and we always used to get a card for birthdays. Everyone chipped in a quid and we got a gift voucher for their outlet of choosing, orr threw darts at a board with various random options on. Then my team merged with another and now we're a team of 30 we just do cards and collection for the milestone birthdays. Again, just a quid or more if you want.
Last year there was a woman in my office going around doing the hard sell for sponsorship for a marathon. For someone who had never even run 5k in thier life sure I'll chip a fiver in in, good luck to you. My problem with it is as an office and an organization as a whole we raise an awful lot for local and national charties, my second problem with it is that she is a regular runner and increasing the distance a couple of miles is not something out of the ordinary and hardly a challenge worthy of sponsorship, nor are the likes of dryathalon and not drinking for a month.
My team was made up of 12 people and we always used to get a card for birthdays. Everyone chipped in a quid and we got a gift voucher for their outlet of choosing, orr threw darts at a board with various random options on. Then my team merged with another and now we're a team of 30 we just do cards and collection for the milestone birthdays. Again, just a quid or more if you want.
Last year there was a woman in my office going around doing the hard sell for sponsorship for a marathon. For someone who had never even run 5k in thier life sure I'll chip a fiver in in, good luck to you. My problem with it is as an office and an organization as a whole we raise an awful lot for local and national charties, my second problem with it is that she is a regular runner and increasing the distance a couple of miles is not something out of the ordinary and hardly a challenge worthy of sponsorship, nor are the likes of dryathalon and not drinking for a month.
Was my 50th birthday last week. Got a £60 voucher, a cake, a big box of fancy cupcakes and a bottle of wine from the proceeds of money collected from the office busybody. I wholeheartedly approve of whip rounds and have since shelled out £5 each for a colleague's birthday and for a colleague off to pastures new.
What a mean spirited lot on here.
What a mean spirited lot on here.
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