Moral delemma

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edicehouse

edicehouse

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Jun 8, 2011
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Suffolk, VA
Last year I had to go to the ER on a Monday night for emergency surgery. The office collected money for me, and they got me a $30 edible arriangement thing. One of the people I worked with at the time stated he put in $20 bucks, and the boss threw in $50. They asked if I recieved anything, because I didn't "thank you email." A couple people told me they collected for me, but others said no one came around, ect. I am thinking the person that collected pocketed most of the money that was donated to me. I am usually the first one to throw in some money for people.

Well just before Christmas they did a collection for a guy that retired about 2 years ago (but took another job that started the day after he retired). They raised $200 (if not more). Now another co worker is out for knee surgery, and they have over $100. I am really considering not donating this time, because it is crazy. I think the person that did the collecting pocketed a bunch of the money raised for me. Or am I just being an ass?

I have no problems donating, but when people steal what was donated. . . I really think the solution is the department management are the ones that do the collecting, or am I being paranoid?
 
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When we donate to help someone.......we send the money (or whatever) to them directly. People can be tempted and while most are honest .... there is always the few that can make it hard to be giving.

JOHO
 
It was funny, one of my co workers said when someone retired "You should give them a fountain pen" I said well if 5 people donate the same amount that I have tied up in a fountain pen, including you, I will donate one. No one suggested that again. LOL
 
Sending directly is a good idea.

If there is legit concern about theft then maybe start gathering data from people of how much they donated for each case and the people intended to receive, ask them how much they actually got. I know it gets into a sticky area dealing with this but I personally wouldn't tolerate it and would get to the bottom of it myself.

Larry
 
This is a very sensitive situation, and I can completely understand how your feel. But I don't think that refusing to participate is the answer. Your issue is with the people who are stealing from the collection, not with those who are the recipients of this effort.

In some places, the approach that is taken is to have a standing fund (I've heard it referred to as a 'sunshine fund') that is used to finance gifts for ill employees or those experiencing bereavement. What people donate at a specific point in time is not related to the expenditures incurred at the same time - instead, the intention is to always have a reserve so that the fund can do things without having to pass the hat every time. You might want to make sure that they don't have a scheme like this where your work before saying something.

But if your place takes the more common approach of doing a specific collection on a case-by-case basis, then it probably would be appropriate that the discrepancy be reported. The only question is how and to whom? Is there a human resource function where you work? Or perhaps an 'ombudsperson' whose job is to received complaints and concerns in confidence? If so, a discreet approach there to report what happened in your case where you know some of the details of what was donated, and what you received, might be appropriate. And make sure that you emphasize that your concern is not that you were 'shortchanged', but rather that it appears that whoever is doing the collection is abusing the trust of his/her colleagues and stealing from the fund, and if that were to become public knowledge, it could lead to serious morale issues.
 
I've run across similar situations several times.

1. another forum I'm on has some generous member when "one of our own" comes down on hard times. Occasionally someone will take a collection to help a member out. One specific time - this happened around Christmas. Months (or maybe even years) later, I figured out that $X was collected, and only $Y was given. We pieced together that the person collecting the money had pocketed part of it. End result was that person ended up being banned from the site, and now more care is taken to who is allowed to collect funds when things come up.

2. my wife is a teacher. They are "asked" (pressured) would be a better word to donate $20 to the "courtesy committee" each year. The CC is supposed to send flowers/gifts to teachers that get married, have 1st child, get sick, etc. Well - we got married - and not so much as a card came from the committee. At the beginning of the next school year, they come around collecting the $20 - my wife declines and explains why. So they sent her a card for our wedding (a generic card, not even a wedding card), something like 9 months later, with a check in it for $25. Other teachers have gotten full-blown bridal showers from the CC. Needless to say, she was disappointed...and no longer donates to the committee. Even with the committee - the staff will still "pass an envelope" for donations when a teacher or aide comes down seriously ill, etc.
 
Personally, I never donate to anything like this at work. Some for the reasons above, but mainly it is work. Yes I spend lots of time with these people, but many I would not speak to outdise of work and likewise. If you are close enough to the said person to contibute do so personally. If you are not close enough to give to them directly why would you just because you work with them?
 
Personal accountability seems to have gone bye-bye, unfortunately. I would ask that anyone who wishes to collect in the future make a list for everyone who gives to sign and write down the amount and then give the paper to a supervisor. The total given to the person should match the amount on the paper in the supervisors file, minus the cost of the card.

Accountability is a necessity, and it will cut down on a few who will rush in to get donations!
 
I would send another email saying that upon checking your " sent" folder you realized you never SENT a thank you for the edible basket....." $30 dollars worth was more than enough for my waistline"
.... Let everyone else ask the person what happened to the rest!

PEER pressure is awesome!!!!!
 
When I worked I hated the "office collection". Why? I always worked on contract, no holiday pay, no benefits, if I worked I got paid, if I didn't work I didn't get paid, (ie no paid days off) when a job finished, I, along with other "contractors" were first to be laid off, & we were often resented by "staff" members.
I worked alongside "staff" on a daily basis, & made some great friends amongst them.
When I was off work sick, or I left a company (by choice or otherwise), I never got a gift or had a collection made for me (not because I was disliked :rolleyes:) simply because I wasn't "staff". However, whenever a staff member left or got married, or had a baby, or was off sick.... (you get the picture), I & other contractors were always asked to contribute to any collection, & had to undergo the 'third degree' if we refused.
Collections are great if they're inclusive, & I totally agree with Hank's comment that there must be accountability.
 
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We almost never took a collection to buy a gift for an illness unless it was one that would involve a long recovery period. We had a small fund and someone would be holding a small amount of money and would buy a card, which every one would sign.

If someone had a baby, we almost always collected a couple of dollars from everyone (seldom more than $2) and would send flowers. The company, in the name of the CEO sent a silver spoon with the baby's name engraved on it.

Sympathy Cards were also sent but usually everyone took care of their own gift or memorium. As a department manager, I was expected to visit or call if one of my employees died (never happened to me) or had a death in the family. The company made a contribution or sent flowers and it usually indicated it was from the department the employee was in.

Things were pretty well coordinated, when my dad died my brother and I worked for the same company but in different locations and yet when the cards came the one to me and the one to my brother both mentioned they were expressing sympathy to "you and your brother". Same thing 16 years later when my mom died.
 
Lots of good ideas here. Are you positive that the people that said they gave actually gave? They may not have been able to but won't tell you that they didn't. I don't know them so I don't know if they would or wouldn't do that. Alot of times donations depend on popularity at work. I got a picture from the Naval Hospital Keflavik staff that was signed by about 5 people. A guy that came in the office and looked at it commented that either it was real small command or no one liked me. :) The command was small but not THAT small. It's sad really that it has come to that in places.
The list of who gave what seems like a good idea but that pressures people into giving and if someone doesn't give everyone knows it and they won't have a collection for them.
 
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