# Company Forcing Employees To Donate Their Hard Earned Money **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 23, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338 "2003-09-23T15:59:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/61 "2003-09-24T13:10:07Z")
> [@](#): > > If you’re really hurting for money that badly, then why tithe? Realisticlaly, shouldn’t you make sure that you have enough money for you before you start giving to the church? Because the Bible tells me so. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/62 "2003-09-24T13:41:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crafter\_Man \* > \*\ ***Opal** : Adolph Hitler had a fondness and appreciation for fine art and classical music. So I guess that made him a good guy, huh? \*\* You really are a self-righteous piece of shit, aren’t you Godwin? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/63 "2003-09-24T14:04:19Z")
And as I’m reading this thread, what should pop into my Outlook inbox-only-to-get-routed-to-the-delete-folder but yet another solicitation for UW? **Crafter-Man** is a jagoff. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/64 "2003-09-24T14:35:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > **liking art and classical music doesn’t help anyone.** Tell that to people who make a living selling art and writing/playing classical music. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > **I’m sure that PP does a lot more of that sort of thing than the abortion thing. A LOT MORE. Not that I’d expect morons to understand this.** I see. So now I’m a moron. Because my opinion does not equal your opinion. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/65 "2003-09-24T14:42:43Z")
See? See the violence inherent in United Way system? See what primal, blind, animal rage the United Way generates in people? Now we’ve got people who ought to know better hijacking and fighting over Abortion and Planned Parenthood and Hitler and Art and Music and the Teletubbies and Fruit Bats and Breakfast Cereals…Jesus Christ, instead of the Annual UW-Sponsored Franks and Beans “cookout” they should sponsor competitive sports to let people release their rage, such as double-elimination axe fighting, Australian dick wrestling, and “Human Safari”. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/66 "2003-09-24T14:55:46Z")
It’s a good thing we are already in the pit!!! Here are the comments the guys gave me for not participating. yet the comapny is still wanting me to set up the friggin account and get the United Way presentation underway. I wrote a firm letter to my boss and I used several of the comments from The Pit as they described exactly how I felt. Here are the comments: “United Way is scum. No I will not contribute” “My tithing and fast offerings (which goes to the feed the poor) average out to over $6K a year, which I have IRS documentation for…I do not have room for more Charitable works…this also does not include the number of relatives that hit me up for money during the year.” Raises were not high enough this year. “No I won’t be contributing to the United Way. I give money and clothes to the Leukemia society and that is all I can do.” “No I will not contribute to United Way. They disseminate the money to organizations I don’t approve of like abortion places. Also they are not a Christan organization” “I will not contribute to United Way. They are a poor organization and enough of the donations don’t reach the needy. Also they won’t support the Boys Scouts. For too long United Way has been shoveling their way into corporations and they are not a worthy cause.” I woulnd’t give them a dime. They are not a Christian organization and then of course there was the scandels where the president stole money and traveled to Europe! I never contribute to United Way, since I found out that less than 1/4 of what is donated goes to the needy, the rest goes to ‘overhead’. I, contribute my check, monthly, directly to the place where it is needed. Westinghouse used to be big into pressuring folks for 100% participation and I know it rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. I was part of the program until all of the United Way scandal started, then I phased myself out. I always assume I’ll give a certain amount each year to a variety of charities and I had no problem having the United Way as one, and totaling up my charitable contributions at tax time. Since quitting United Way, other needy organizations have filled that gap and I could only give to United Way at the cost of one of my present charities…… sorry, that’s not going to happen. No I will not be participating. Thanks. No United Way is not one of the charities I help. I decline at this time. I don’t like the way they are treating the Boy Scouts. That’s my reason and I’m sticking to it. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/67 "2003-09-24T14:56:28Z")
I was on maternity leave during our annual extortion drive this summer. Thank you jeebus. And the incentives listed here are genuinely cheesy–but still better than the ones they offer us. If we donate at least 10 times our hourly pay, we get to leave an hour early _once_ during the year! Like, wow, I’m creaming in my jeans just thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/68 "2003-09-24T14:59:34Z")
You know I never received a response from my boss whether he wanted to donate or not. I bet the pressure is incredible on him to donate. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/69 "2003-09-24T15:07:21Z")
> [@](#): > > I never contribute to United Way, since I found out that less than 1/4 of what is donated goes to the needy UW has a high overhead, but it doesn’t have a 75% overhead. Isabelle, no offense, but you work with morons. ---
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/70 "2003-09-24T15:08:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Q. I don’t like feeling pressured to give. > > A. United Way’s board of directors have taken a formal position that does not condone coercion. A decision about whether to give or how much to give, should remain a personal decision. Source: [http://www.uwbv.org/uwbv-faq.php](http://www.uwbv.org/uwbv-faq.php) ---
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/71 "2003-09-24T15:11:46Z")
And here’s another story: > **[Charity counted funds not raised / United Way took credit for donations...](https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Charity-counted-funds-not-raised-United-Way-2558095.php)** > > United Way of the Bay Area, one of the region's best-known nonprofit fund-raisers,... ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/72 "2003-09-24T15:15:19Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Joe Random_ > **If you’re really hurting for money that badly, then why tithe? Realisticlaly, shouldn’t you make sure that you have enough money for you before you start giving to the church?** > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Isabelle \* > \*\*Because the Bible tells me so. \*\* Just a thought, **Isabelle** , for you to talk over with your church’s priest: Give some nominal amount to UW, which will calm down your boss, and reduce your church tithing by the same amount. The net effect to you is zero, plus your boss stops pestering you, which is a good thing. [hijack] Alternatively: Do you believe in rock & roll – that music saves your mortal soul? And can you teach me how to dance real slow? [/hijack] Hey, _someone_ had to say it! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LookitMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7bcc69/32.png) [@LookitMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LookitMe)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/73 "2003-09-24T15:16:15Z")
Donor choice a negligible factor at United Way Most member agencies never see an adjustment in funding set by panel [http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug03/166446.asp](http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug03/166446.asp) United Way finds turf crowded Trend toward tough competition is slow to arrive in Milwaukee [http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/sep03/166539.asp](http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/sep03/166539.asp) Fewer donors, more choices put squeeze on agency United Way struggles with identity [http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug03/166266.asp](http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug03/166266.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/74 "2003-09-24T15:24:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Just a thought, Isabelle, for you to talk over with your church’s priest: Give some nominal amount to UW, which will calm down your boss, and reduce your church tithing by the same amount. The net effect to you is zero, plus your boss stops pestering you, which is a good thing. It is clearly written in the Bible that 10% of your best should be given to the Lord. To me that means to my church not to an agency that scams. I also have a personal distaste for the organization. First of all they fund some organizations that support abortion. I don’t. Second I went to United Way for help once. I despertly needed counseling for my children and I was turned away. These were my feelings before I had conversations with the guys in my office. After hearing thier opinions and reading the information from all these posts I would NEVER give to United Way under any circumstance! ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/75 "2003-09-24T15:26:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Just a thought, Isabelle, for you to talk over with your church’s priest: Give some nominal amount to UW, which will calm down your boss, and reduce your church tithing by the same amount. The net effect to you is zero, plus your boss stops pestering you, which is a good thing. It is clearly written in the Bible (in my interpretation) that 10% of your best should be given to the Lord. To me that means to my church not to an agency that scams. I also have a personal distaste for the organization. First of all they fund some organizations that support abortion. I don’t. Second I went to United Way for help once. I despertly needed counseling for my children and I was turned away. These were my feelings before I had conversations with the guys in my office. After hearing thier opinions and reading the information from all these posts I would NEVER give to United Way under any circumstance! ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/76 "2003-09-24T16:49:18Z")
> [@](#): > > I was on maternity leave during our annual extortion drive this summer. Thank you jeebus. jeebus knocked you up?!? ---
**Author:** ![maskedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@maskedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maskedman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/77 "2003-09-24T17:04:28Z")
I was led to believe that United Way was a selfless charity that only had the public’s best interests in mind. WRONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!! I have been at the United Way HQ building (very nice building, numerous lead crystal chandeliers, gold filagree, imported marble, etc.) AND also at the local UW President’s stately mansion. Yes, mansion. VERY VERY NICE HOME. Seems to be some wholesale skimming of the donations if you ask me. This violates what I think of when I hear the word Charity. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Charity is really his wife’s name. I haven’t donated since. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/78 "2003-09-24T17:33:20Z")
I spent a summer as a generic office drudge at the United Way office back home. \* I didn’t work for UW, per se, but rather for a local corporation who donated my services to UW.\* The people I worked with were good, honest people, who really felt like they were making a difference. UW doesn’t aid individuals directly, but when someone showed up needing help the whole office would bend over backward finding places that could do something for them, including non-UW resources. That’s not to say that I agree with the policies of the organization, of course. I thought it horrible that they gave to the Boy Scouts but not the Girl Scouts, and the “Fair Share” plan was just offfensive. Yes, the organization overall has way too much overhead, and a lot of the bigwigs are corrupt. But it’s not fair to act as though everyone associated with the entire thing is a greedy bloodsucker. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/79 "2003-09-24T18:50:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > \*\*jeebus knocked you up?!? \*\* Jeebus loves me, this I know. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338/80 "2003-09-24T19:02:18Z")
I bet no-one believed Mary either, bella. “Yeah, yeah, an intangible omnipitant being. Pull the other one.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-forcing-employees-to-donate-their-hard-earned-money/203338.md?page=5)