# Am I the only one that thinks fundraising at work is wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 13, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997 "2021-12-13T17:53:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/61 "2021-12-17T18:08:20Z")
I never minded charitable fundraising campaigns at work, at least how my previous employer did it. You could contribute to any charity you wanted to (as long as it was recognized by the IRS), but if you contributed through their campaign the company made a matching donation. What makes me uncomfortable is political fundraising at work. I currently fork for a federal contractor, and being federal contractor means the company is forbidden by law from any political lobbying whatsoever. But it’s perfectly legal for the company’s _employees_ to engage in political lobbying and make political contributions. So they try to encourage employees to contribute to the [Company] Employee PAC, a political action committee that, as they describe it, lobbies for the interests of the company. It’s not particularly high pressure, pretty much just a company-wide email every now and then, but I still don’t really like it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/62 "2021-12-17T18:16:35Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I was a Federal employee (including my time in the military) for 37 years. I hated CFC time of year, moreso under certain bosses who wanted 100% participation. Boy, howdy. Dunning enlisted personnel who barely make enough to live on is just wrong. When I gained seniority, I was expected to go to all my troops and ask them individually if they wanted to donate to CFC. What I did instead was announce it once at morning quarters and if someone decided to look for more information, they could come see me. I don’t remember anyone doing that. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/63 "2021-12-17T19:47:59Z")
Everyone has to pay payroll taxes no matter how they feel about it. At least you get street lights out of the deal. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/64 "2021-12-17T19:55:59Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > …my employer mandatorily garnishes money every two weeks from my paycheck. They send some of it to a local organization and even more of it to a national organization. I’ve enquired if I can be exempt from this garnishment as I don’t agree with how those organizations use those funds, but they flat out told me “no”, that it was for the greater good. What am I to do? Folks, I think he is referring to his state and federal taxes. Cute. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/65 "2021-12-17T19:56:47Z")
Isn’t that what I said? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/66 "2021-12-17T19:57:33Z")
Sorry-I read down a few posts but somehow didn’t see yours. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/67 "2021-12-17T19:57:58Z")
Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/68 "2021-12-17T20:03:01Z")
My company has always been HUGE on charitable giving. Sadly, in the bad old days, there was a lot of strong-arming goin’ on. The whole UW implosion was the rancid cherry on the shit sundae. Fortunately, they learned their lesson, and while they’re still big on charitable giving, they dumped UW and started an internal “Employee Contributions” group. But what made it fine for me was that your donations could be to any organization you wanted as long as it was a 501c3. I donated to the Dachshund Rescue org where I adopted three of my dogs. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/69 "2021-12-17T21:45:01Z")
Soliciting donations in the workplace, especially for those fucking scumbags at United Way, is insanely inappropriate. I worked at one place where I was one of two hold outs out of a couple hundred and those assholes relentlessly hounded me because 100% was so important to them. I had to escalate to HR to get it to stop and they were forced to change tactics the next year. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/70 "2021-12-18T02:51:57Z")
Fundraising at work is wrong. Although I will make an exception for parents hawking Girl Scout cookies or band candy for their kids. I love Thin Mints. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/71 "2021-12-18T03:21:19Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Soliciting donations in the workplace, especially for those fucking scumbags at United Way, is insanely inappropriate. And if a charity passes muster one year that doesn’t mean the next year it’ll still be worthy. SNL humor moment: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uEEYbXVCoT0/maxresdefault.jpg "SNL Digital Short: United Way - SNL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEEYbXVCoT0) I think many people are happy to give to charities but damn! You can’t count on the money going where you think it’s going. Every year we’re supposed to vet these things? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/72 "2021-12-18T03:41:25Z")
Has anyone here ever donated only because you felt their would be repercusions if you didn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/73 "2021-12-18T15:23:16Z")
Absolutely, but so far the repercussions have been “they’ll be less inclined to renew my contract” or “they’ll think less of me,” not “they will fire me” or anything really tangible. It’s never felt completely optional (“hey, here’s something happening, take it or leave it”) the way an invitation to go out to dinner (which would also be a cost) might feel. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/74 "2021-12-18T15:44:06Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Has anyone here ever donated only because you felt their would be repercusions if you didn’t? When I was in the USAF damn right I did, and it wasn’t because of any feeling-we were outright _told_ that not participating in some way would influence evaluations. ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/75 "2021-12-18T16:08:10Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Somewhat related, I hate having grocery clerks ask me if I want to “round up” as a donation to whatever cause. My go-to response is “Not today.” Sounds like you may, tomorrow. I keep it to a “nope”. Poor clerk gets enough grief daily, so I generally keep my preferred tirade of “The store should round _down_ and donate that” to myself. Dan ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/76 "2021-12-18T21:39:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When I was in the USAF damn right I did, and it wasn’t because of any feeling-we were outright _told_ that not participating in some way would influence evaluations. That really pisses me off. You were already protecting your country - what the hell more did they want from you!? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/77 "2021-12-19T00:40:41Z")
The unit and Base commanders wanted good PR. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/78 "2021-12-19T01:16:54Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > So, my humble opinion is that workplace charity should be conducted by employers on the company’s / institution’s behalf, but not by employees, and funds should not be raised FROM employees. I agree with you 100 percent. I believe it’s outrageous and immoral for an employer to even suggest, not to mention ask, that employees spend their wages or time or effort in any particular charitable manner. Any message I get regarding such efforts is promptly ignored by me. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/79 "2021-12-19T01:23:27Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Somewhat related, I hate having grocery clerks ask me if I want to “round up” as a donation to whatever cause. My go-to response is “Not today.” I don’t mind that, because I can say yes or no as I please. What I hate is people blocking the entrance of a place soliciting. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997/80 "2021-12-20T20:35:00Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Folks, I think he is referring to his state and federal taxes. > Cute. I thought he was talking about union dues. Either way…yeah, let’s just go with “Cute”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-fundraising-at-work-is-wrong/955997.md?page=3)