office solicitations

One thing I don't understand about working in an office is the collections process. When someone has a bday, we give money. When someone needs bail money*, we give money. When someone's in the hospital, we give money. I'm sure if people here had going away parties (instead of just disappearing) then we would give money. The other day someone's dad died, so we gave money.

**Callous bitch alert**
I don't know the son. I didn't know the dad that died. He was an old sick man though, so it's not like he was surprising anyone by dying. I still gave a dollar because I'm sure they can use it, but I was the one on the list who gave the least.

I can't give money to every person that works here that has a problem. Nobody's ever given me money for anything. Plus, this is a pretty big company. There are about 100 employees, most of whom are in the shop and I never see or talk to, let alone know their names. Yet I am still expected to give.

I remember a time at a different job when a coworker had all her laundry stolen from the laundromat. And I mean ALL her clothes and her 3 young kids' clothes. They literally only had the clothes on their backs left. I had no problem giving her money then because a) I knew her pretty well and b) it was an emergency. But things at this office have never fallen into that category. I don't know people well, if at all, and it's not ever been an emergency (except maybe that bail one, but I was still brand new so I didn't get any details).

I simply can't afford to help everyone. Sure my boyfriend just got his first paycheck and he makes 4 times more than me after taxes. But besides the fact that that's his money and he knows these people even less than I do, we need that money to pay rent and stuff. Nobody seems to notice, but I'm not exactly rich. I would have no problem (or less problem, anyway) sharing my wealth if I had any wealth to share. As it is, part of my dinner fund was just given to someone that I don't know to help with (I guess) his dad's funeral arrangements. That dollar is not going to do anyone any good except for me. And don't say that "every dollar adds up" because I'm the only one that gave as little as a dollar. They're lucky they didn't get a handful of pennies.

So I'm sorry that that guy's dad died, but I'm also sorry that I have to donate or else be shunned by people I don't know and will only have to "deal with" for 2 more months. What a stupid arrangement.




* This happened my first week here. I didn't give any money because I had no idea who this was and why I should help them get out of jail.