Question about charities and the workplace.

[arbusto_baboso]

I work for a mid-sized county in California. We are a traditionally red - and rather regressive - county wedged between blue areas.

Every year for the past several, we've been subjected to a begging campaign from United Way in the workplace.

While I have no problem with appeals from charities (and contribute to some myself) I find it totally inappropriate that they accost me - or are allowed to accost me by county officials - in my workplace.

Worse than that is the fact that anyone choosing NOT to give is still required to return the contribution card with a big "zero" marked in the center.

First, I feel that this county is just trying to suck up to United Way, because we ALWAYS are told what percentage of county employees ahve given, in comparison to other counties. Second, I feel the card set-up is a way to try to shame employees into making contributions, who otherwise would not or could not.

Is it worth taking this to my (nearly useless) union, SEIU, for this blatant conflict of interests?

[Sequoia]

1. That happened where I work

numerous times. I totally refused to be a part of them, but the employees who signed up got an extra vacation day. I think the United Way is a crooked operation and yes, I'd complain. Most companies won't tolerate Joe Blow coming to the office selling car wash coupons.

[OutNow]

2. Dig Deep and Give!

The same scenario exists at most major companies. Where I worked, managers were told how much to contribute and employees were encouraged. A card had to be returned by all employees. I had no problem with this at all and always gave 1% or more to the United Way. People who contributed 1% or more had their names published (with permission of course) every year. I found that most of the employees that I worked with who were politically liberal had their names on the list. On the other hand, the hard-ass right wing bigots of various stripes were never on the list. And these were the folks that said we shouldn't pay taxes for welfare and ADC because caring for the poor and children should be done by charities. Typical hypocrites.

Dig deep and give.

[arbusto_baboso]

6. I DO give, just not in the workplace.

I don't believe in making a show of how much I donate, and I refused to be dragooned into doing so. It's a hypocrite's game, in my opinion.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Probably not. United Way has been doing this for...

as long as I've been working. It was always a moderately hard sell, but no more than the blood drives. I usually did some checkoff to get them off my back. As a manager, I didn't want to look like a cheapskate.

Besides, looking at the list of charities they support, there's a lot on there I never heard of, and who got much, or most, maybe all, of their support from UW. And, we could designate specific charities.

Yeah, they are trying to shame you, but what else is new. Nobody's gonna remember by next month who gave and who didn't.

The office begging for birthdays, kids, weddings, people quitting or retiring... was far more irritating.

[FuzzyDicePHL]

4. I used to get this too

My employer wanted all (even $0) responses because there was some kind of recognition for organizations whose responses reached a certain percentage (nothing to do with monetary value).

I responded; I did not donate, though -- I did not like it that United Way kept a portion of donations for operating costs -- but the real reason I would not contribute was that they supported the Boy Scouts.

My personal solution was to donate directly to organizations I chose myself.

EDIT: for clarity

[Arctic Dave]

5. Yes, I used to get this too.

The corporation would get their name published with the amount given by the employees. It made the company look like they were actually giving it all. It is mostly a PR stunt for the corporation so they have the appearnce of giving back to the comunity.

P.S.
I am in no way against giving to charities. I have a very good life and do not have any problem helping people who need a hand.

[Raejeanowl]

7. I Once Worked For A UW Non-Profit

Whose ED made it very much a job requirement to pledge what she felt was a reasonable tithe to the Annual Campaign.

It was typical of her fair and progressive thinking in general. Like the limited fiscal excess that went to buy the new office furniture she wanted rather than the new copy machine desperately needed. Needless to say, the turnover rate in that agency would have been shocking elsewhere.

I am now retired, but more recently in the workplace, I would smile, laud the effort, and inform the "collector" of my own charitable choices and how great they were.

Your individual decision is reflective upon the effectiveness of a particular individual in charge of "selling" it as a project; five minutes from now, it will not matter. It's just this piece of community-support posturing you have to gag over once a year.