How did/do you feel about the constant round of collections for birthdays/babies/marriages/leaving that you get in some workplaces?
Ive just read a thread on Mumsnet where many people posting genuinely felt hurt and resentful because they were less generously treated after years of contributing to gifts for others. Some of these posters said they felt like s**t when they left and did not even receive a card. Its clear that they still feel hurt and worthless about the incident even years later.
In my own careers I always refused at the onset to contribute to staff collections because I felt they were a real racket. I never hesitated to say so. As a boss I forbade them in my place of work – although of course people were free to give gifts to workmates on an individual basis. This was after I discovered that the previous manager had caused some resentment by organizing lavish Christmas gifts for cleaners. Some of the junior salaried staff were on a lower hourly wage than the cleaners! I stopped all that.
When you all work for the same employer is it appropriate for one group in a workplace to make a collection for others (often manual staff) as though they were on different social levels? If you employ a cleaner/gardener/handyperson in a personal capacity the dynamic of the relationship is different. You are rewarding them for loyal service that they have given you and not some organization that you both work for.
warped cutting mat - any solutions?