Joan Ball is a business professor at St. John’s University in New York and the author of Flirting with Faith: My Spiritual Journey from Atheism to a Faith-Filled Life.
I was recently reminded of an incident from my early days in New York. Back then, I was surviving on a daily ration of ramen and $1 egg drop soup. I considered it my NYC diet, even though I never lost weight and my sodium levels shot through the roof. Nevertheless, I had the job of my dreams straight out of college as an editorial assistant at a national magazine; that was more than enough to quell my hunger pangs.
The editor-in-chief of this magazine happened to have a pet charity. It was a worthy cause, most definitely, and all you had to do to donate was give up one day’s lunch allotment (in New York, I’d say anywhere from $6-15). When I first saw the signage the editor had up around the office, promoting the charity and directing your donations to her assistant, I simultaneously applauded her efforts and knew I wouldn’t donate. At a point in my life where every cent of an exceedingly tiny salary went towards rent, student loans, transportation and sometimes food, I simply did not feel morally bound to donate my lunch money. $6 can go far when you’re living on egg drop soup!
I assumed my decision not to donate would pass under the radar – why
would the top of the totem pole care about a $6 donation from the
bottom of the totem pole? Then I received an email from the editor’s
assistant. The email was a reminder that we, the receivers of this
email, had not yet donated and that Friday was the deadline. There were
only five people on this email. Apparently the editor-in-chief of this
magazine was not too busy to keep track of donations from the lower rungs.
Obviously, eager young employee that I was, I immediately ran over to
her assistant with my $6 and asked to immediately be taken off this
blacklist. Was I being charitable? Heck no. Was I resentful at being
pushed into a corner by my boss? Heck yes. Did I think this was highly unethical? Oh boy, yes.
Then there’s the story from a good friend of mine which reminded me of my long-forgotten resentment. She had received a
work-related email, on a work email account, with an email signature attached at the
bottom. The signature was a full-on tout for the sender’s personal cause of choice, with a link and a request to donate. My friend was
irritated and a little offended. I think rightly so.
Personally, even though it might appear fairly innocuous, I find most
workplace charity-pushing to be inappropriate and often unethical -
though well-meant.
Joining a team of co-workers to volunteer or participate in an event is one thing; asking for money, something else entirely.
I truly don’t think I’m being uncharitable by saying this. How about you? Do you find
charity-pushing in the workplace inappropriate, unethical, or simply an
efficient way to raise money for a good cause?
posted June 8, 2009 at 2:48 am
I don’t have a personal problem with people promoting their charity or function, but they should have a very hands-off approach. I think any further action such as keeping track of those that choose to donate or sponsor or participate is unethical as well as rude. Directed reminders should also be considered verboten. This has nothing to do with the value/utility of the charity or function, the essence should be to keep the workplace and work relationships free of such external pressures. I don’t want to be guilted/extorted while at work. This is white collar pan-handling.
The list of stuff that a person can be asked to participate in is astronomical: cookies, magazine or book fundraisers, seasonal/holiday items, candle parties, food storage items, cookware, cosmetics, adult “candle” parties, auctions, walkathons/marathons, various national as well as international aid foundations, police/fire/EMS organizations, animal organizations, ecological organizations, etc etc etc.
Many employers actually forbid such activities, not only during company time, but also on company property. The use of corporate email, even sig-lines, to promote such events should be forbidden.
I see a slight difference in fundraisers where goods or services are actually exchanged. But if I didn’t like the cookies, I wouldn’t buy them.
posted June 8, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I felt it was unethical when they had charity drives at my high school (Bayside) because I felt pressured to donate to be part of the cool crowd that including the likes of rebel Zack Morris, beauty Kelly Kapowski, and that hunk AC Slater.
posted June 8, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly with you. I know the situation you are referring to — and felt very violated as well by this “blacklisting” of sorts. I don’t think it’s so wrong for co-workers to send other co-workers info about causes that they believe in (particularly if they are friends too) — but there should be no strings attached, no keeping score and counting dollars. Especially when it comes from a superior. This is just plain unprofessional. Someone in a place of power should no better than to impress their personal values onto their underlings.
posted July 25, 2009 at 2:14 pm
The non-profit that I work for organized a charity event to support a sister organization. There was a mandatory $10 dollar cover and we were required to attend. I should add that we’re basically volunteers – we make $1000 a month. Totally unethical.